Match Preview - ENG vs NAM 34th Match, Group B, T20 World Cup

Match particulars

England vs NamibiaJune 15, Antigua, 1pm native time

Large image: England breathe simpler after assertion win

Have the actual England stood up finally? The jury, in reality, might be nonetheless contemplating its verdict. For if one and 1 / 4 matches was an inadequate pattern measurement to evaluate their early-tournament woes towards Scotland and Australia, then a 19-ball run-chase towards an outclassed Oman can hardly depend as proof that each one is true as soon as once more with the defending world champions.

However at the least the velocity and certainty of that Oman efficiency – carried out towards the clock as a lot as their opponents – has positioned England’s progress again in their very own fingers… kind of. By vaulting their web run fee up over that of the Scots’ (3.08 to 2.16), they’ll now breathe simpler within the information {that a} victory of any magnitude towards Namibia will enhance that determine nonetheless additional, and subsequently be sufficient to maintain them heading in the right direction for the Tremendous Eight.

In fact, there’s – and can stay – a seed of uncertainty as long as Scotland nonetheless have an opportunity of touchdown the shock of the event by beating Australia in Group B’s last match on Sunday, however with Pat Cummins having formally declared that the Spirit of Cricket is at stake in that contest after per week of hypothesis about go-slows, it is protected to imagine that the Aussies will give their all, as they invariably do on the world stage.

They definitely did simply that in bowling Namibia out for 72 in Antigua on Tuesday. It was a efficiency of near-identical dominance to England’s crushing of Oman – it was all wrapped up in a 34-ball run-chase, to England’s 19, by 9 wickets to England’s eight, and with their star legspinner Adam Zampa claiming 4 for 12 to Adil Rashid’s 4 for 11. The one actual distinction was within the resistance supplied by Namibia’s captain, Gerhard Erasmus, in his doughty 36 from 43 balls.

England haven’t any room for complacency given their uncertainties of the previous week, but when this staff really is solid within the picture of its captain Buttler, then confidence absolutely begets confidence. They’ve restored a level of company to their event narrative. It could be one of many greatest shocks in World Cup historical past in the event that they let that qualification likelihood slip now, earlier than Scotland have had their shot at ruining the get together on Sunday.

Type information

England: WLWWL (final 5 accomplished T20Is, most up-to-date first)Namibia: LLTWW

Within the highlight – Adil Rashid and David Wiese

He took a few matches on this event to get totally again up to the mark – which is not completely stunning seeing as his shows towards Pakistan final month had been his first aggressive outings since February – however towards Oman, Adil Rashid’s recreation was in good working order. His evaluation included a exceptional 20 dot-balls, as his command of flight and variation demanded guesswork from an inexperienced Oman middle-order, and if he can produce an analogous four-over show towards Namibia, that should be ample to reveal the gulf between the groups. Looking forward to the Tremendous Eight (as England, tentatively, can now enable themselves to do), the sight of a settled Rashid, rising into his work, augurs extraordinarily nicely for the defending champions’ prospects.

By no means say by no means, however on the age of 39, and with at the least two years till Namibia’s subsequent shot at an ICC world event, this might be a final hurrah on the massive stage for the mighty David Wiese – a mainstay of Namibia’s fortunes since he transferred his allegiance again in 2021, having beforehand performed 26 matches for South Africa, together with a task on the 2016 World T20. He was integral to their solely victory to this point on this marketing campaign, with three wickets towards Oman allied to a stellar Tremendous Over show, however he was much less efficient towards Scotland and Australia. A reversion to his finest might but trigger England a number of jitters on Saturday.

Staff information

England’s assault nailed its transient within the Oman rout, with Reece Topley’s inclusion for his first match of the event offering an ungainly left-arm level of distinction to enhance the 90mph-plus tempo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wooden. It was all too sizzling to deal with for Oman’s line-up, though there could be a temptation to relaxation both or each of the latter given the two-day turnaround between matches, particularly now that any previous victory will maintain England on monitor for qualification. Sam Curran, the star of England’s title win two years in the past, is ready within the wings for a primary outing of the marketing campaign, whereas Chris Jordan might slot again in too.

England (doable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Jofra Archer/Sam Curran, 9 Mark Wooden/Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley

Namibia blended issues up of their final outing towards Australia, with Ben Shikongo and Jack Brassell making their first appearances of the marketing campaign – and doubtlessly final as nicely, after being launched for a mixed tally of 33 runs in ten balls in a one-sided run-chase. Of Namibia’s 15-man squad, solely the 20-year-old batter Dylan Leicher has but to be given an outing. With their qualification hopes over, there could also be a temptation to reconfigure as soon as once more.

Namibia (doable): 1 JP Kotze, 2 Nikolaas Davin, 3 Jan Frylinck, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 5 Malan Kruger, 6 Zane Inexperienced (wk), 7 David Wiese, 8 Ruben Trumpelmann, 9 JJ Smit, 10 Bernard Scholtz, 11 Tangeni Lungameni

Pitch and situations

England discovered themselves pleasantly stunned by each the carry within the floor for the Oman recreation, in addition to the diploma of spin that Rashid extracted. After damp situations in Barbados, the Antigua leg has been carried out below clearer skies, so one other full contest is in prospect.

Stats and trivia

Namibia have confronted England simply as soon as earlier than in a full worldwide contest – at Port Elizabeth throughout the 2003 World Cup, when Rudi van Vuuren and Jan-Berrie Burger starred in a spirited 55-run defeat.

Moeen Ali wants one wicket to succeed in 50 in T20Is.

Erasmus has the potential for twin milestones: he wants three wickets to succeed in 50 in T20Is, and 60 runs to succeed in 1500.

Quotes

“There have been clearly a number of negatives flying round and questions being requested, and I am actually happy for the bowling unit that we got here out and managed to placed on a efficiency.” Mark Wooden, England’s quick bowler, was pleased with the way in which his staff bounced again towards Oman

Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket

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