AUS vs NAM

That was an absolute annihilation from a strong Australian team as they become the second team after South Africa to qualify for the playoffs. Namibia could never really challenge the strong Australian side and will be hoping to finish their campaign on a high. The T20 World Cup carnival continues with India slated to play co hosts USA later in the day. Keep following Sportskeeda for all the latest sporting actions but for now this is me (Arya Sekhar Chakraborty) signing off also on behalf of my fellow commentator and good mate Karthik Raj.

Mitchell Marsh (Australia captain): Yeah I thought it was a great bowling performance. All round a great game for us. I think it's very important, we will get busy after the game against Scotland. Hopefully we win against Scotland and qualify for super eights on a high. If you look at his career in the last four five years, he is the most experienced player. We are lucky to have him (Cummins). Probably not as many beers as you had Haydos. We have families out there, maybe some beach day.

Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia skipper): Yeah I guess not quite willing to run at the opponents. There was doubt in the bowlers which made all the difference. Well I guess it's about not sitting back against the top quality side. We can bridge the quality gap by trying to fight fire with fire. A good side like Australia with their skill set will expose you if you are not mentally strong. We didn't play according to the conditions.

Australia won by 9 wickets (with 86 deliveries to spare)

Travis Head 34*(17) | Adam Zampa 4/12(4)
Gerhard Erasmus 36(43) | David Wiese 1/15(1)

It was never going to be a challenge for Australia chasing down a score of 73 runs and they made that look ridiculously easy in the end by winning it inside the powerplay. It was a stunning effort with the ball from Australia as barring Gerhard Erasmus none of the Namibian batters could make an impact which was the reason behind their capitulation. Both the Australian openers came out all guns blazing and the intent was pretty much to finish it off as quickly as possible. 

David Warner smashed a boundary of Trumplemann in the opening over and followed it up with a couple more fours and a six in the second over. David Wiese went for 14 runs in his first three deliveries but came strongly to induce a false shot from Warner which brought an end to his innings. However it was always going to be a matter of how quickly the Aussies would chase this down. 

Head took a liking to Ben Shikongo smashing him for two fours and a six before Marsh finished off the over with a boundary. Head continued the carnage against Gerhard Erasmus in the 4th over, smashing a six off the second delivery but the Namibian skipper made a good comeback by bowling five dot deliveries. 

It was Trumplemann who was then taken apart in the 5th over with three boundaries coming off that over. Skipper Mitchell Marsh provided the finishing touches by clubbing a couple of fours and a six to seal the game for Australia with 14.2 overs to spare. The massive win have also taken their net run rate to 3.58 and is expected to finish as the top ranked side from this group.

Adam Zampa (Player of the Match): (On becoming the first Australian Men's player to take 100 T20I wickets) Sounds nice but was more important to get the win and qualify for the Super 8. Bowled a couple of bad balls but generally the ball has been coming out well. We experienced the breeze in Barbados as well. You have to account for that for sure. First step in taking the trophy home but a long way to go.

That's game set and match for Australia. They have chased it down with more than 14 overs to spare and this has been a proper hiding from a much superior Australian side. With that win, Australia also becomes the first team officially to qualify for the super eights. The Namibian will consider this drubbing as a nightmare but the difference of two teams was always on display for the majority of the game. 

5.4 Jack Brassell to Mitchell Marsh, FOUR! THAT'S IT! Length delivery outside-off, Marsh walks down the track and drives it to the left of mid-off for a boundary. Australia wrap up a nine-wicket win with 14.2 overs to spare. They also qualify for the Super 8 with this victory!

5.3 Jack Brassell to Mitchell Marsh, SIX! Slow and short, Marsh swipes it over deep square-leg for a maximum. Was a slower delivery but it just sat up to be struck hard by Marsh!

5.2 Jack Brassell to Mitchell Marsh, FOUR! Short of a length outside-off, Marsh square-drives it to the right of point for a boundary. Nothing wrong with the ball, just a quality shot.

Jack Brassell, right-arm medium fast comes into the attack.

A lovely slower delivery from Ruben Trumplemann to end the over but Australia just two shots away from registering a victory here. 13 more needed and they might look to finish it off inside the fielding restrictions. It has been a meek surrender from Namibia. 

4.6 Ruben Trumpelmann to Travis Head, slower delivery on a length, Head looks to slog the ball over mid-wicket but he misses as the ball just bounces over the leg-stump.

This is just stand and deliver from Travis Head. A hat trick of boundaries for Head and the hitting prowess continues for this power hitter. 

4.5 Ruben Trumpelmann to Travis Head, FOUR! Length delivery outside-off, Head drills it between extra-cover and mid-off for a boundary. Brutal striking from Head!

4.4 Ruben Trumpelmann to Travis Head, FOUR! Full and slow, Head powers it over mid-on for a boundary. In the slot and Head wasn't going to miss out. Australia could finish this match in the Powerplay itself!