Eagles sail into semi-finals unbeaten
Cricket
The FNB Eagles are one step away from reaching their main goal at the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers after they sailed through the group phase unbeaten in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Namibia (72/2 in 7.5 overs) made short work of the total set by Malawi (71 all out in 16.2 overs) as they overpowered the southeastern African team by eight wickets on Tuesday.
The player of the match was Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia), who took 4/10 in 4 overs of spin bowling, which he followed up with an entertaining 14 not out off 10 balls (1x4 1x6).
Namibia’s Malan Kruger (28 off 11 balls; 4x4 1x6) this time played the more aggressive role in the opening partnership of 36 runs with Jan Frylinck (22 not out off 18 balls; 2x4), while number three Louren Steenkamp was bowled for 7 runs off 8 balls (1x4).
In Malawi’s innings, none of their batsmen hit a six, with only five boundaries in the entire innings. Wicketkeeper Gift Kansonkho, batting at number three, tried in vain to keep things together with 31 not out off 31 balls (2x4).
Seam bowlers Ben Shikongo (1/14 in 3 overs) and JJ Smit (3/10 in 3 overs) both had early success, before Loftie-Eaton took out four Malawian batsmen.
On Thursday morning (09:30), Namibia needs to win its semi-final against Group B runner-up Tanzania to secure its qualification for the 2026 ICC Men\'s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Thursday\'s later semi-final will feature hosts Zimbabwe as favourites against Kenya.
The final will be played on Saturday, with two African nations qualifying to the T20 World Cup.
Namibia has competed at each of the last three T20 World Cups – Emirates 2021, Australia 2022 and West Indies 2024 – and under captain Gerhard Erasmus and recently-appointed head coach Craig Williams are on course to secure another qualification.
Namibia (72/2 in 7.5 overs) made short work of the total set by Malawi (71 all out in 16.2 overs) as they overpowered the southeastern African team by eight wickets on Tuesday.
The player of the match was Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia), who took 4/10 in 4 overs of spin bowling, which he followed up with an entertaining 14 not out off 10 balls (1x4 1x6).
Namibia’s Malan Kruger (28 off 11 balls; 4x4 1x6) this time played the more aggressive role in the opening partnership of 36 runs with Jan Frylinck (22 not out off 18 balls; 2x4), while number three Louren Steenkamp was bowled for 7 runs off 8 balls (1x4).
In Malawi’s innings, none of their batsmen hit a six, with only five boundaries in the entire innings. Wicketkeeper Gift Kansonkho, batting at number three, tried in vain to keep things together with 31 not out off 31 balls (2x4).
Seam bowlers Ben Shikongo (1/14 in 3 overs) and JJ Smit (3/10 in 3 overs) both had early success, before Loftie-Eaton took out four Malawian batsmen.
On Thursday morning (09:30), Namibia needs to win its semi-final against Group B runner-up Tanzania to secure its qualification for the 2026 ICC Men\'s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Thursday\'s later semi-final will feature hosts Zimbabwe as favourites against Kenya.
The final will be played on Saturday, with two African nations qualifying to the T20 World Cup.
Namibia has competed at each of the last three T20 World Cups – Emirates 2021, Australia 2022 and West Indies 2024 – and under captain Gerhard Erasmus and recently-appointed head coach Craig Williams are on course to secure another qualification.
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