T20 World Cup: Ruben Trumpelmann heroics help Namibia outwit Scotland in low-scoring thriller

Namibia beat Scotland by 4 wickets in their Super 12 game in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to register their first-ever win in the main draw of a T20 World Cup.

David Wiese and JJ Smit (right) played a crucial part in Namibia’s run chase with their 35-run stand (AFP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTSNamibia (115/6) beat Scotland (109/8) by 4 wickets in Abu DhabiThis Super 12 victory was Namibia’s first in the main draw of a T20 World CupRuben Trumpelmann was adjudged Player of the Match for picking 3 wickets in the 1st over of the game

Debutants Namibia made history on Wednesday by registering their first-ever win in the ICC T20 World Cup main draw after beating Scotland by 4 wickets in a low-scoring Super 12 game in Abu Dhabi.

Chasing a below-par 110 for victory, the Namibians reached the finish line in the final over with 5 balls to spare thanks to a crucial partnership between JJ Smit and David Wiese for the fifth wicket at the Zyed International Stadium.

Smit remained unbeaten on 32, finishing the game with a six, while Wiese scored 16 during their 35-run stand. Opener Craig Williams also contributed with 23 runs at the top for the winners.

SCO vs NAM, T20 World Cup: Highlights

Earlier, Namibia rode on a superb bowling performance led by Ruben Trumpelmann to restrict the Scottish to 109 for 8 after electing to field first.

23-year-old left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann struck thrice in the first over to become the first bowler in T20 World Cup history to achieve the feat.

“It felt great to win and hope to get a few more. I’m focused on the training, and happy to see that things went my way.

“I was nervous out there, but I thought, it’s the World Cup, so why not enjoy it. I use swing as a weapon up front, so luckily it went my way today. We hope to win a few more, but this is massive for us,” Trumpelmann said after picking up the Player of the Match award.

Trumpelmann sent back George Munsey, Calum MacLeod and skipper Richie Berrington to leave Scotland tottering at 2 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in the first over but missed out on a chance to complete his hat-trick.

The Durban-born Trumpelmann got the ball to shape back into the right-hander from the word go and the one that went away with the angle also troubled the Scotland top-order. Nambia were also brilliant in the last five overs, conceding only 25 runs and taking three wickets.

Michael Leask (44 off 27) joined opener Matthew Cross (19 off 33) in the middle and the duo steadied the ship for Scotland with a 39-run stand but the end total was just not big enough to stop Namibia from making history in Abu Dhabi.

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