Namibia have secured qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup following a commanding 63-run victory over Tanzania in the first semi-final of the Africa Region Final at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
Electing to field first after winning the toss, Tanzania failed to contain Namibia’s batting line-up. The Namibians posted a competitive total of 174 for six from their 20 overs, led by an unbeaten 61 off 43 balls from JJ Smit, who also contributed with the ball to earn the Player of the Match award.
Namibia’s innings started brightly, with Malan Kruger striking 28 from 15 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Despite a brief middle-order collapse, captain Gerhard Erasmus steadied the innings with a composed 55 off 41 deliveries before Smit’s late flourish propelled the total to a challenging score.
In response, Tanzania struggled to gain momentum. They were restricted to 111 for eight, with only Abhik Patwa (31) and Mukesh Suthar (24) offering some resistance. JJ Smit claimed three wickets for just 16 runs, while Ben Shikongo also impressed, taking three for 21.
Tanzania’s hopes of qualifying for the global tournament were dashed, as Namibia maintained control throughout the match to book their place in next year’s T20 World Cup.
