India defeated Namibia 116 (Steenkamp 29, Varun 3-7, Axar 2-20, Hardik 2-21) by 93 runs at 209 for 9 (Kishan 61, Hardik 52, Erasmus 4-20).
After Ishan Kishan set the stage with a half-century off 20 balls, Hardik Pandya got two wickets and scored a half-century off 27 balls. Three wickets were taken by Varun Chakravarthy in his first ten balls.
India wins against Namibia
With a total of more than 200, India prevented Namibia from approaching them. Their largest victory in T20 World Cups was by 93 runs.
However, this match was also about all the things India failed to do because of the expectations they brought to the tournament and the constant scrutiny they face. 300 wasn’t out of the question as Kishan was dissecting Namibia’s seamers. 240 appeared likely when Hardik was at the crease.
It was mostly due to one man that they only made 209. Gerhard Erasmus, the captain of Namibia, took 4 for 20 from his four overs by exploiting a Delhi pitch that had very little grip.
Erasmus bowled offspin with the broadest range of release positions imaginable, including high-arm and round-arm, and occasionally from deep behind the bowling crease. This includes a run-out and two runs in his last over, the 19th. India lost 5 for 4 off the final 11 balls of their innings, starting a late and only partially explainable collapse.
For the most part, India’s duty against an Associate team was routine. However, Erasmus and that late collapse gave the match a temporary boost of energy and might have provided some inspiration for India’s future rivals, including as Pakistan, who play them on Sunday and have their own talented round-arm spinner.
