On November 28, Namibia solidified their berth in the 2024 T20 World Cup, slated to be held in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). Their entry into the prestigious tournament was earned through a convincing 58-run victory over Tanzania during the T20I Africa Region Qualifier at Windhoek’s Wanderers Cricket Ground.
Choosing to bat first, Namibia posted a total of 157 for six wickets, restricting Tanzania to 99 for six in 20 overs. JJ Smit’s outstanding performance, with an unbeaten 40 off 25 balls, earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
Boasting a remarkable five consecutive victories, Namibia currently leads the Qualifiers table with 10 points and a net run rate of +2.776. Their journey began with a morale-boosting seven-wicket win against Sikandar Raza’s Zimbabwe.
Namibia’s last match in the tournament is set against Nigeria on November 30. Having secured one spot, the competition for the remaining slot intensifies among Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Uganda and Kenya, each with three wins out of four matches, control their destiny in the tournament. Zimbabwe, boosted by a significant victory against Rwanda, must not only win their remaining matches but also depend on favorable outcomes from other games to secure the second position.
Rwanda and Tanzania have been eliminated from the race, while Nigeria’s chances of advancing to the World Cup are fading. The T20 World Cup Africa qualifier regional final, which began on November 22, is scheduled to conclude on November 30 in Windhoek. Teams are competing for the last two spots in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.
