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In a remarkable display, nine-man Australia triumphed over Namibia in their opening T20 World Cup warm-up match, thanks to stellar performances by Josh Hazlewood and David Warner. The match saw Australia's backroom staff stepping in as substitutes, highlighting the team's adaptability and depth.
Australia has won a warmup T20 World Cup match against Namibia with coaching and support staff in the team.
— The Current (@TheCurrentPK) May 29, 2024
Read More: https://t.co/Ljtos1jVRE#TheCurrent #AusVsNamibia #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/OZvuk1BSxA
Australia, currently missing six key players from their 15-member squad due to IPL commitments, showcased their resilience and preparation for the upcoming tournament. Despite being shorthanded, the team opted to play two warm-up matches to provide much-needed game time to players coming off the off-season or with limited action in India.
Match Summary:
Australia 123 for 3 (Warner 54*) defeated Namibia 119 for 9 (Green 38, Zampa 3-25, Hazlewood 2-5) by seven wickets.
Josh Hazlewood set the tone for Australia's bowling attack with an outstanding spell, delivering three consecutive maidens and finishing with figures of 2-5 from his three overs. His exceptional new-ball performance included a catch by substitute fielder Andre Borovec and a run-out off his bowling, demonstrating his sharp fielding skills.
#ICYMI
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 29, 2024
David Warner's 21-ball 54* and Josh Hazlewood's fiery spell (4-3-5-2) were the highlights as Australia hammered Namibia by seven wickets in their warm-up game
Scorecard: https://t.co/30iKRST2GF#T20WorldCup #warmup pic.twitter.com/z1nW0Ymk3d
Reflecting on his performance, Hazlewood commented, "Probably a few of us needed to play coming off a big layoff...was good to get out there, playing is always different to training. The ball felt like it was coming out pretty good. The wicket looked a little bit tough early, probably a little bit slow, probably what we are going to encounter here in the West Indies so it's just about keeping it pretty simple, sticking to the top of the stumps, not trying too much and letting the wicket do its work."
Ashton Agar recalled for this tournament, partnered with Hazlewood to open the attack but ended as the most expensive of the specialist bowlers. Due to the absence of key players and captain Mitchell Marsh not yet fit to bowl, Tim David's part-time off-spin was utilized for a full allotment of four overs, helping to restrict Namibia to 119.
Adam Zampa played a crucial role in dismantling Namibia's middle order, while Nathan Ellis, who had limited opportunities in the IPL, impressed with his economical spell, conceding just 17 runs in his four overs.
In response, Australia raced to their target in just 10 overs. David Warner, recovering from a lean and injury-hit IPL season, found form with a blistering 20-ball half-century. Warner and Marsh provided a rapid start in the powerplay, with the captain contributing before a run-out ended his innings.
Warner, who is set to retire from international cricket after this tournament, brought up his fifty with a flurry of boundaries, including three sixes against Tangeni Lungameni. Although Josh Inglis and Tim David were dismissed cheaply by Bernard Scholtz, Warner remained unbeaten, steering Australia to a comfortable seven-wicket victory.
Head coach Andrew McDonald, along with assistants Brad Hodge and Andre Borovec, and national selector George Bailey, stepped in as substitutes to cover for the absent players. Borovec and Bailey, in particular, were on the field from the start, showcasing their versatility and commitment to the team.
Australia will face hosts West Indies in their second warm-up game on Thursday, aiming to fine-tune their strategies and gain further match practice ahead of the T20 World Cup.
