For the first time, familiar foes Namibia and Oman face each other on the grandest stage of all. Both teams are returning for their third T20 World Cup in four editions, but their paths rarely crossed in the shorter format. Prior to their five-match series in Muscat this April, they had only met three times in T20s, each during T20 World Cup qualifiers.
Although Namibia emerged victorious in that recent series with a 3-2 win, Oman arguably benefited more. The series allowed Oman to find a winning solution to their opening batting order, with Naseem Khushi flourishing after being promoted up the order. Despite the loss, Namibia’s ability to edge out Oman showcased their strengths and exposed some tactical patterns likely to be seen in today’s match. Oman’s strategy often relies on quick runs during the powerplay, especially with Khushi at the top, and the leadership of their in-form captain, Aqib Ilyas. Conversely, Namibia boasts powerful ball-strikers like Nico Davin and JP Kotze, complemented by late-order hitters David Wiese and JJ Smit.
This match is crucial for both teams to keep their hopes alive in Group B, especially with tough matches against Scotland, England, and Australia ahead. The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, historically favors teams batting first. Only 7 out of 23 chases have been successful, despite an average first innings score of 156. This trend continues even under lights, with the potential for passing thunderstorms.
Highlights
- Familiar T20 foes Namibia and Oman meet on the T20 World Cup stage for the first time.
- Namibia won the recent five-match series against Oman 3-2.
- Oman’s Naseem Khushi found form as an opener during the series.
- The Kensington Oval favors teams batting first in T20Is.
Probable XIs
| Team | Player |
|---|---|
| Namibia | Niko Davin, Malan Kruger, JP Kotze, Gerrhard Erasmus (c), David Wiese, Zane Green, Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Berhard Scholtz, Tangeni Lungameni |
| Oman | Kashyap Prajapati, Naseem Khushi, Aqib Ilyas (c), Ayaan Khan, Zeeshan Maqsood, Khallid Kail, Mohammad Nadeem, Mehran Khan, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Bilal Khan |
Clash of Familiar Foes on the World Stage
- Namibia and Oman face off for the first time in the T20 World Cup.
- Namibia won their recent series 3-2, but Oman found a strong opening solution.
- Kensington Oval favors teams batting first, with a low success rate for chases.
- Both teams need a win to keep their hopes alive in Group B.
- Gerhard Erasmus has played in every official T20 match between Namibia and Oman since 2012.
Match Information
| Match | Namibia vs Oman, 3rd Match |
|---|---|
| Date | June 2, 12:30 AM GMT, 8:30 PM Local, 6 PM IST |
| Venue | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Weather | Passing thunderstorms expected, dew factor likely moot |
| Head to Head | 4-2 in favor of Namibia |
Location
What to Expect
Namibia’s JJ Smit might bowl if required, despite being used sparingly since his injury. Erasmus, with his impressive record against Oman, will be key. For Oman, promoting Naseem Khushi to the top order could be crucial, but they may struggle with late hitting.
Quotes
Gerhard Erasmus: “Starting off well is obviously the first goal. We had some good success against Oman the other day, winning that series 3-2. So we’re coming into this game with a good idea, good information, and good confidence.”
Aqib Ilyas “We think we’re favorites. As a team, Namibia, we have already played against them. We know what their strength is, what their weakness is. And I feel, all the plans we have made, if we execute them on the field, it’s going to be a good game and Oman is going to be the favorites.”