Photo Credit: ICC
Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus says his side will learn plenty of lessons from their 52-run defeat against New Zealand in Sharjah.
The Eagles have been making their debut appearance at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup performed brilliantly to reach the Super 12 stage, in which they have recorded a victory over Scotland.
Against New Zealand, Namibia started well having put the Blackcaps into bat before Jimmy Neesham and Glenn Phillips smashed 67 off the final four overs.
New Zealand’s bowlers were then disciplined as they restricted Namibia to 111 for seven in their chase of 164.
“That period of the game there is a big window of opportunity and they were just better in those periods,” Erasmus said.
“They executed their skills on a pretty difficult wicket and we lost wicket after wicket and just couldn’t keep with their run rate.
“At the back end, to score runs off two quality seam bowlers, and some spinners as well, it’s hard to do.
“It’s a learning experience, it’s awesome to see, it’s awesome to be a part of, we can just take it as it comes.”
Erasmus also explained how different the World Cup has been compared to their previous tournament experience.
He said: “I think it gives us the opportunity to express ourselves a little bit more. We are used to playing in qualifiers where every game was almost like a do or die type of game.
“Here the intensity is so different to what we are used to, the discipline is so much better than what we are used to and for us, it’s a great learning experience.”
Neesham and Phillips moved New Zealand to a strong total of 163 as they recovered from 66 for two at the halfway mark, before fine bowling from Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Adam Milne in the final four overs of the game prevented Namibia from doing the same.
The Blackcaps are now in pole position to qualify for the semi-finals although net run rate could still be a deciding factor, something Neesham says they tried to ignore.
“We’re pretty good as a unit at keeping what’s necessary to concentrate on at the front of our minds,” Neesham said.
“It doesn’t bother us too much. It was just about going out in the field and getting done what we had to get done.
“There are a few different permutations around run rate as well after the game. But for us, it was just about winning the game moving on to Afghanistan in a couple of days.”
With New Zealand 87 for four at the end of the 14th over, Neesham was given his first opportunity of the World Cup to show his batting prowess.
He said: “It’s just about being as free as I can be, as clear as I can be in my game plans when I do get out there and the nature of being that number six all-rounder is that you’re going to be tasked with the game when the game is on hand.
“There’s going to be those pressure situations whether it’s today or a semifinal, or a final moving forward, so I’m always ready for that. There are certainly no excuses from a number of balls faced point of view.”
