Simi Singh takes three as Ireland deny Namibia a podium finish

Third place play-off: Ireland 135 (Balbirnie 46, Stirling 25, Smit 3-19, Williams 3-34) defeated Namibia 108 (Erasmus 51, Baard 17, Singh 3-25) by 27 runs.

After going down to the Netherlands in their semi-final, Ireland has bounced back a day later to defeat Namibia and claim third place at the men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019.

In an event that skipper Gary Wilson described afterwards as “the highest standard qualifier, we’ve ever played in, without a doubt” the veteran was “satisfied” with his side’s finishing position and performance over the course of the last fortnight.

Gerhard Erasmus hits a boundary to bring up his half-century as Gary Wilson looks on (Photo: ICC)

Defending 135, a score that felt slightly under par on a wicket that seemed to have flattened out somewhat since yesterday, Simi Singh was the pick of the bowlers with 3-25 in his first match of the event, collecting player of the match honours.

Gerhard Erasmus top-scored with 51, but when his wicket fell with the score on 92 in the 15th over, the chase lost all momentum. No other Namibian batter got out of the teens.

Earlier on, Andrew Balbirnie top-scored for Ireland with 46, but after racing to 49 only one down in the last over of the power play, wickets started to fall at regular intervals.

Yesterday, the Dutch snared 5-36 from 8 overs of left arm spin against Ireland and today the overs of Groenewald and Scooltz collected themselves three fluro green scalps.

In the end, two sixes from Mark Adair – during a period of 15 balls where the last five Irish wickets fell for 18 runs – got Ireland to 135. Both JJ Smit and Craig Williams took three wickets for Namibia.

Tim Cutler

Current CEO of the Vanuatu Cricket Association, former CEO of Cricket Hong Kong and self-confessed emerging cricket nerd, Tim is a tenacious advocate for the growth of the sport and is a pundit, commentator and writer on cricket’s emerging world especially on events, strategy and funding.