India vs Sri Lanka - Commentary

Right then, the first weekend of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup is done and the new week now begins with Match number 4 as the cricketing carnival moves to 'the Big Apple,' New York. It will be Sri Lanka taking on South Africa in a high-octane Group D clash. That game will begin on Monday, 3 June at 8 pm IST (2.30 pm GMT) but you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

The victorious skipper of Namibia, Gerhard Erasmus says they lacked momentum with the bat but every now and then they took wickets and fielded well and that came in handy in the end. Adds that this surface was a tricky one and the batters getting an eye in with 10-15 balls to their name needed to raise their hand and take the game deep and finish it off. Mentions that having David Wiese on the crease for the super over proved vital for them as he possesses a lot of experience of being in those crunch moments.

Aqib Ilyas, the captain of Oman says that they would have enjoyed the game if they would have won and credits the team to make a match out of this one after posting a low total. Adds that Ruben Trumpelmannb executed really well first up and the batters who came in after that, should have shown more intent and they were short by about 15 runs. Adds that he can bowl off-spin or leg spin given the type of batter on strike and you need to have different skills in T20 cricket. On Bilal Khan bowling the Super Over, he says that Bilal is one of the best bowlers in associate nations and sometimes it just doesn't come off.

David Wiese is the Player of the Match for his match-winning performance. Wiese says it feels like he has aged a couple of years tonight as it was an emotionally draining game for him. Adds that he was just looking to keep calm in the super over and being there at the end helped a bit as this was not an easy track to go out and start swinging. Mentions that the pitch was two-paced and a difficult one to strike from the first ball. Adds that if a team is chasing 180 then the approach is different but with them chasing a low total the took the cautious approach. Adds that 140 would have been a tough chase on this track and they will take the learning from this game and would come out and do even better in the next one.

Presentation time...

Oman didn't have a great time with the bat early on as the top order completely crumbled. However, the Zeeshan Maqsood led middle order showed some fight and Khalid Kail played a knock of 34 runs before Shakeel Ahmed scraped a few runs together at the death to get Oman over the 100-run mark. It seemed a total that was never going to be enough but Oman came out all guns blazing with the ball. Bilal Khan got a wicket in the first over and then the others made sure to stem the flow of runs. The spinners bowled well in the middle phase and Oman managed to pick up wickets at the right time. However, it was a spell from medium-pacer Mehran Khan that completely changed the game and he ended up with 3 wickets almost defending 4 runs in the final over but it wasn't meant to be as the keeper fumbled and allowed Namibia to take it to a Super Over, first one in 12 years in the T20 World Cup. Unfortunately for Oman, they were blown away in the shootout and it will be a tough pill to swallow.

Namibia won the toss and opted to bowl and this decision turned out to be brilliant as Ruben Trumpelmann picked up a couple of wickets in the very first over and after that, Namibia just controlled the game really well. The bowling chnages worked out pretty well and then David Wiese closed out the innings with three wickets to his name as Trumplemann ended with four. Needing just 110 to win, Namibia stuttered early on and even though for a long while, it all looked to be under control, things got really difficult towards the end. Jan Frylinck played an anchoring knock and made 45 but couldn't see his side home and it was David Wiese who just about managed to get his side on level terms. Wiese was then given a chance to bat in the Super Over and did a fine job as Namibia got 21 big runs in the shootout and then yet again Wiese rounded off a fairytale of a performance by defending those 21 runs as well.

Just the third match of the World Cup and we have witnessed a remarkable game of cricket, probably one of the most memorable of the whole tournament and it is elation for Namibia as they manage to cross the line in the Super Over, getting a couple crucial points on the board. As for Oman, it is heartbreak but they gave it their all in the field and took the game deep but it all fell apart in the one-over shootout.

Aqib Ilyas walks out to bat now.

We are back for the chase! The umpires are out in the middle and the players of Namibia are also out in the middle. David Wiese was seen practising with the ball and it looks like he will get the nod over Ruben Trumpelmann to defend the total. If Oman get to 21 runs and the scores are level again, we will have another Super Over. It will be the pairing of Naseem Khushi and Zeeshan Maqsood to come out to bat for Oman.

... CHASE ...

Right then, that was some first over of the Super Over! Question marks on Oman for handing the ball to Bilal Khan instead of Mehran Khan who bowled a gem of a final over and that has cost them dearly. David Wiese racked up a four and a six off the first two deliveries and broke Oman's back then and there. They finished up with 21 runs thanks to a couple of lovely shots from skipper Gerhard Erasmus. Can Oman somehow manage to get 22 runs and pull off a miraculous win? Let's find out.

We are set! David Wiese and Gerhard Erasmus have walked out as the openers for Namibia. A surprise to all as Bilal Khan will bowl the super over for Oman instead of Mehran Khan who looked unplayable today.

... SUPER OVER ...

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WE WILL HAVE A SUPER OVER! What a game we have just witnessed here. Oman were down and out at the interval but will now feel that they should have won it on the final delivery. Namibia will be relieved a touch as they have managed to scrape to level terms after a sluggish batting display. It will now be Namibia to bat first as we head into the Super Over. Will we see another close affair in the upcoming one-over shootout? Let's find out.

Malan Kruger is the new batter in.

Zane Green walks out to bat now.