The Eagles of Namibia suffered a nine-wicket defeat against Australia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Tuesday.
With this victory, Australia advanced to the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup.
Adam Zampa reached a milestone of 100 T20I wickets, and Australia’s top order required less than the powerplay to chase down Namibia’s total of 73.
In a post-match interview, Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus reflected on the match, acknowledging the predictable outcome for an associate nation.
“These big games are always gold dust, because you get to physically run out against the best in the world, facing different ball speeds and high-quality skills,” he said.
He praised the Australians for their class, and suggested that such matches can serve as a wake-up call for Namibia.
Erasmus also expressed confidence in Australia’s chances to win the tournament.
“I think they are definitely favourites. While conditions have varied throughout this tournament, making it unpredictable, Australia’s balanced squad, depth and adaptability give them a strong shot at the finals,” he noted.
Looking ahead to their final match against defending champions England on Saturday, Erasmus emphasised the importance of stepping up and aiming for an upset.
He acknowledged that few players in the Namibian squad have experience in international leagues, underscoring the value of these high-stakes games.
“We can’t see it as a dead-rubber. This last game is another opportunity to propel us into the future, and improve in both T20 and 50-over formats,” Erasmus stated.
He further emphasised the significance of the experience gained from playing top-tier teams.
“Playing against another high-quality side, we’ll do our best to win. Whether it favours Australia or Scotland, we’ll battle hard.
We haven’t reached our full potential in this tournament, but there’s a lot to play for in that last game – 40 overs of cricket against the best in the world,” he said.
Re f l e c t i ng on the i r tournament performance, Erasmus noted the team’s st ruggles to play with the desired freedom and consistency.
“Even after our first win against Samoa, we didn’t play with the exact stamp on the game we wanted in the Oman game – and it carried over into the Scottish game, where we couldn’t close out despite a decent total. Yesterday’s defeat was disappointing, but we have 40 overs left to close that skills gap,” he added.
Erasmus stressed the importance of intent and mental preparedness.
“We need to combat the intensity our opponents bring. By playing our brand of cricket and executing well, we hope to compete strongly, and make the most of our remaining opportunities,” he said.
– lmupetami@nepc.com.na