Namibia became the first team from the Africa region to qualify for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup after a convincing victory over Tanzania in the Africa Qualifier semi-final held in Harare on Thursday. Led by brilliant performances from JJ Smit and Gerhard Erasmus, Namibia cruised to a 63-run win to secure their place in the tournament, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
They now join South Africa, who qualified automatically, and will be accompanied by either Kenya or Zimbabwe, depending on the outcome of the second semi-final.
Smit and Erasmus Lead Namibia’s Comeback
After a shaky start that saw Namibia lose four wickets for just 41 runs, the team staged a strong recovery thanks to a crucial 88-run partnership between JJ Smit and captain Gerhard Erasmus.
Smit delivered a stunning all-round performance, smashing an unbeaten 61 off 43 balls with four sixes and a four, while also claiming 3-16 with the ball. Erasmus supported him with a composed 55, hitting six boundaries to guide Namibia to a competitive total of 174/6 in 20 overs.
Tanzania Fall Short in the Chase
Chasing 175, Tanzania never really found momentum. Only opener Abhik Patwa (31 off 31) offered resistance, but regular wickets kept them well behind the required run rate. They eventually finished on 111/8 in their 20 overs. Apart from Smit’s three-wicket haul, Ben Shikongo also impressed with 3-21, sealing a dominant victory for Namibia.
Fourth World Cup Appearance for Namibia
This will be Namibia’s fourth appearance at the Men’s T20 World Cup, following their previous campaigns in 2021 (Super 12s), 2022 (group stage), and 2024 (group stage). With strong momentum and a balanced squad, Namibia will aim to go deeper in the tournament this time around.
Match Summary:
- Namibia: 174/6 (20 overs) – JJ Smit 61*, Gerhard Erasmus 55; K. Juma 2-29
- Tanzania: 111/8 (20 overs) – Abhik Patwa 31; JJ Smit 3-16, Ben Shikongo 3-21
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