England scored 122/5 in 10 overs, where as Namibia scored 84/3 in 10 overs.
So, finally England beat Namibia by 41 runs (DLS method).
The match finally began three hours after the scheduled start, much to England’s relief, with the defending champions asked to bat in a game reduced to 11 overs per side.
After a shaky start, a half-century stand between Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook got England going.
They finished strongly, posting 122/5 in 10 overs after one more over was reduced following a brief shower.
Chasing a revised target of 127 for victory (as per DLS), Namibia managed only 84/3, allowing England to prevail in a must-win game.
ENGLAND
Powerplay (3 overs): England on a sticky wicket
Phase score – 18/2 [RR: 6.00, 4s/6s: 3/0]
David Wiese bowled an excellent opening over, giving away just a single by keeping it short of the length and moving the ball away from Phil Salt and Jos Buttler.
Ruben Trumpelmann, with his left-arm angle and late movement, delivered a big blow, bowling Buttler for a 4-ball duck in the second over.
Namibia kept it short to Salt, who managed a couple of boundaries off Trumpelmann.
However, Salt was undone by a knuckleball with extra bounce from Wiese, edging to the ‘keeper.
Bairstow chipped a slower delivery from Wiese for a straight four, but Namibia struck early and kept England in check.
Overs 4-8: Bairstow-Brook stand gives England impetus
Phase score – 64/1 [RR: 12.80, 4s/6s: 4/4]
Left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz found turn and bounce, going past Bairstow’s bat a couple of times before Bairstow executed a reverse sweep for a four and a six over long on.
A missed chance by ‘keeper Zane Green gave Bairstow a reprieve.
Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus conceded 10 runs in his over, including a four for Bairstow.
Harry Brook hit the first six of the match, clearing the midwicket fence off Jack Brassell, followed by a boundary behind point to help England past 50 in the sixth over.
Bairstow’s first maximum came off a shortish delivery from Erasmus.
The fifty-run stand was raised off 28 deliveries before Scholtz dismissed Bairstow, who got a top edge trying to slash one to the off side.
Moeen Ali struck a six over long on off Scholtz almost immediately.
Overs 9-10 – Brook, Livingstone provide good finish
Phase score – 40/2 [RR: 20.00, 4s/6s: 2/4]
A brief rain spell led to a short delay, turning it into a 10-over affair.
Brook scooped a four off Brassell after taking two couples, then dispatched a short, slow ball over the fence, ending the over with another scooped boundary, with 19 coming off the over.
Moeen struck a six off Trumpelmann in the final over before being caught in the deep attempting a pull.
Liam Livingstone hit a one-handed boundary over deep backward square leg and then cleared the long-on fence, helping England finish well with a 21-run final over.
NAMIBIA
Powerplay (3 overs): England keep Namibia in check
Phase score: 18/0 [RR: 6.00, 4s/6s: 1/1]
Reece Topley started with an economical over, conceding only two runs, including a no-ball.
Michael van Lingen top-edged a four and a six off Jofra Archer in the second over.
Topley gave away only four runs in the final powerplay over, matching England’s score.
Overs 4-8: Wiese fights but England ahead
Phase score – 53/1 [RR: 10.60, 4s/6s: 3/4]
Sam Curran started well before Nikolaas Davin top-edged him for a four.
Chris Jordan, replacing Mark Wood, was hit for a six by Davin but otherwise kept it tight, giving away 10 runs.
Adil Rashid, fresh off a match-winning show against Oman, conceded nine runs despite being struck for a first-ball six by van Lingen.
Davin retired before the next over and Wiese came in, hitting a four off Curran, but the over yielded only seven runs.
Wiese struck two sixes and a four in a 20-run over off Rashid, leaving Namibia needing 56 off the last two overs.
Overs 9-10: Farewell for Wiese as Namibia fall short
Phase score – 13/2 [RR: 6.50, 4s/6s: 0/1]
Death overs specialist Jordan gave away only nine runs and picked up the wicket of van Lingen, taking the equation out of Namibia’s hands, needing 46 in the final over.
Archer got the wicket of Wiese in the last over, with the veteran receiving a pat on the back from his captain as he left the field.
Only four runs came off the final over as England completed a comfortable victory.
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