Sports Reporter :
India beat Namibia by nine wickets in their last Group-2 match of the ICC T20 World Cup at Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.
Chasing Namibia’s total of 132 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, India romped home making 136 for the loss of one wicket when they had 28 balls to spare.
India made a formidable start as the two openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma put on together 86 runs for the opening stand before Rohit Sharma was caught behind by wicketkeeper Zane Green off Jan Frylinck.
Rohit Shrama hit a marvelous 56. His 37-ball innings was studded with seven fours and two sixes.
After Rohit Sharma’s dismissal, KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav powered their team to overhaul the winning target. They contributed together 50 runs for the unbroken second wicket partnership.
KL Rahul remained unbeaten with 54 runs. His 36-ball knock was laced with four fours and two sixes.
Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten with 25. He struck four fours in his 19-ball innings. Jan Frylinck took one wicket for 19 runs.
It may be mentioned that India, the powerhouse of world cricket and minnows Namibia failed to move into the semifinals.
AFP adds: Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets each after India elected to field first in the last Super 12 fixture.
Wiese scored 26 off 25 balls and lifted Namibia from a precarious 94-7 to a respectable 132-8.
India, who lost their first two games to Pakistan and New Zealand who both qualified from Group 2, missed out on the semi-finals after the Black Caps beat Afghanistan on Sunday while Namibia have just a single victory against Scotland to their name.
The Indian bowlers kept up the charge after pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah sent back Michael van Lingen for 14 to end a 33-run opening stand.
Jadeja (3-16) struck twice with his left-arm spin and Ashwin, an off-spinner, combined from the other end to rattle the Namibian middle and lower order with figures of 3-20.
Wiese put on 23 for the eighth wicket with the left-handed Jan Frylinck, who made an unbeaten 15, to add useful runs in the final few overs.
Number 10 Ruben Trumpelmann made 13 from six balls, including a six and a four in the 20th over from Mohammed Shami, to give India a target of 133.
