By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
In a gripping T20 World Cup Group B clash in Barbados, Namibia triumphed over Oman following a dramatic super over finish. David Wiese emerged as the hero in Sunday's late match, contributing 13 runs to Namibia's super over total of 21 and then restricting Oman to 10 runs, sealing a crucial win at Kensington Oval.
The match was forced into a super over after both teams ended their 20 overs with identical scores of 109. Ruben Trumpelmann's impressive four wicket haul had initially put Namibia in a strong position, dismissing Oman for 109 in 19.4 overs.
Despite the early setback, Oman's bowlers fought back valiantly. Mehran Khan delivered an exceptional performance, taking three wickets for seven runs in three overs, including two crucial wickets in the final over that left Namibia needing just five runs to win.
However, in a surprising decision, Khan was not chosen to bowl the super over. Instead, Bilal Khan took the ball, but the move proved costly. Wiese hit a four off the first ball and followed with a six off the second. He added three more runs before Namibia's captain Gerhard Erasmus hit consecutive fours, setting Oman a daunting target of 22 runs in the super over.
Wiese then took charge of the bowling for Namibia. He conceded only two runs from his first two deliveries and took the wicket of Naseem Khushi. With Oman needing 18 runs from the final delivery, Wiese allowed Zeeshan Maqsood to hit a six, knowing victory was already secured.
Reflecting on the match, the 39-year-old Wiese admitted it was an emotionally taxing evening. "I definitely aged a couple of years tonight," he said. "It was an emotionally draining evening." Wiese expressed confidence in his ability to steer Namibia to victory, both with the bat and ball in the super over. "The pitch was difficult and didn’t play the way we thought. But we adapted well," he added.
Oman captain Aqib Ilyas, while disappointed with the narrow loss, defended the decision to select Bilal Khan for the super over. "I think Bilal is one of the best bowlers you can have at this level," Aqib said. "But there are days where you plan and it doesn’t execute."
Earlier in the match, Trumpelmann had given Namibia a dream start with two wickets from the first two balls of the game, contributing to his four wicket haul. Wiese also made significant contributions in the regular 20 overs, taking 3: 28 from 3.4 overs.
Despite the strong start, Namibia struggled in their run chase. Jan Frylinck (45) and Niko Davin (24) were the top scorers as Namibia fell just short of their target, necessitating the super over and ultimately setting the stage for Wiese's heroics.