A 19-ball run-chase against Oman has put England in a position where they can forget all their red-face moments this World Cup. Although Jos Butler’s men still have the odds of crashing out of the contention, a victory against Namibia of any magnitude will get them all set for their next destination. The bowling display was better against Oman than their previous two outings where they conceded runs at the rate of 10 per over, losing one and thanking rain for saving them in the other. The batting, although, never was as much of an issue, it would take more than chasing a 47-run target against a bowling lineup like Oman’s to solidify this opinion. Nevertheless, this is all over and done with. What remains is for the Englishmen to make sure they do what is in their hands before the debate about Australia’s spirit of cricket could be ignited.
The way Namibia played during the previous T20 World Cup, they were expected to clinch one game at least this time. In addition, they topped the regional qualifiers last year, beating even Zimbabwe by 7 wickets. But as of now, they remain winless in this tournament and are expected to end without any points. This definitely was not the sort of World Cup campaign they needed, upsetting the English fixture can uplift their spirits but that seems unlikely.
Team Overview:
Jos Butler has been terrific for England, both as a batter and as a captain. England expected Will Jacks to do better after a brilliant IPL season, but he failed to carry the momentum which cost them a game against Australia. The way Reece Topley bowled against Oman gives Butler a choice between Mark Wood and Jofra Archer in the game against Namibia. Adil Rashid took 4 wickets against Oman at the same venue. The deck is nearly a rank-turner and it would be fun to see him run riot again. Moeen could be handed a few overs as well since he couldn’t exploit the Antigua pitch against Oman.
Namibia batters, especially the top and the upper middle order, need to step up if they want to pose a threat to England. While they are unlikely to have runs galore in Antigua, putting up a decent total by building the innings carefully would go a long way for them. Besides, David Wiese and the Skipper Erasmus none of the batters have shown intent in batting. JJ Smit has been a letdown and so has Jan Frylinck. The African team surely would have missed disciplinary issues left out, Jan Nicole Loftie Eaton.
Head-to-Head Matches:
This would be the first time both teams will encounter each other for a T20 match. In fact, both teams have never gone head-to-head barring their ODI clash in 2003.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium has decks with true bounce, which means batters could easily read the balls. More than swing or seam, the pacers will rely on their ability to hit the deck. To avoid getting thumped off the sweet spot, bowlers should target good length. Adil Rashid took four wickets in the last game and spinners can hope to get a decent turn off the pitch.
Prediction:
Its a matter of life and death for England. To survive in the tournament and more importantly if they want to escape getting badly lambasted, they need to win this game. Odds are in their favor, all they need to do is to make sure to hold Namibia to an achievable total or post the opposite themselves.
Where to Watch:
You can watch the games on the following platforms as per your region:
- India – Star Sports
- Pakistan – PTV Sports, Ten Sports, Myco (Live streaming) and Tamasha app (Live streaming)
- USA and Canada – Willow TV
- England – Sky Sports Network
- Caribbean – ESPN Caribbean
- New Zealand & Australia – Sky Sports NZ, Prime Video
- Other regions – SuperSport, Sirasa, CricLife, STARZPLAY
