NAM vs SCO, T20 World Cup 2024: Richie Berrington Sees Scotland Home Against Namibia

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Skipper Richie Berrington's unbeaten 47 helped Scotland seal a 5-wicket win over Namibia in the Group B match of the T20 World Cup 2024 on Thursday (June 6) at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

After rain played spoilsport in their opening match of the tournament against England, Scotland grinded out a tough win over Namibia to go top of Group B with 3 points from 2 matches.

Chasing 156, the Scots found themselves in a spot of bother at 73/4 in 11 overs, but Berrington and Michael Leask stepped up and steered them back on course, sharing a 74-run stand in 41 balls.

While Leask Leask departed after a 35 off 17, skipper Berrington sealed the deal with a maximum in the penultimate over helping Scotland completed the chase with nine balls to spare, which doesn't properly reflect how tense it got.

For Namibia, skipper Gerhard Erasmus, who saw his fifty go in vain, was also the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 29 in 4 overs, while Bernard Scholtz, Tangeni Lungameni and Ruben Trumpelmann also claimed a wicket each.

Earlier, opting to bat, Namibia rode on skipper Erasmus' 52 from 31 balls to set a target of 156 after Brad Wheal (3 for 33) had struck in the very first over. Brad Currie and Leask also claimed 2 wickets a piece for Scotland.

Erasmus shared a 51-run stand with wicketkeeper-batter Zane Green (28 off 27 balls) before departing in the 14th over with the scoreboard at 106/5. Green and David Wiese (14 off 13 balls) then took Namibia closer to 150.

With this result, Scotland now gives themself a chance to deny either Australia or England, the Group B heavyweights, a path into the second round. Namibia now has one win and one loss, having claimed a dramatic Super Over win over Oman earlier in the tournament.

Group B action continues on Saturday (June 8), with a heavyweight clash as pre-tournament favourites and 2021 champions Australia take on defending champions England.