3 maidens, 5 runs and 2 wickets: Josh Hazlewood turns T20 into Test match as Australia overpower Namibia to kick-off T20 World Cup 2024 preparations

Australia kicked off their T20 World Cup 2024 preparations with a comprehensive win over Namibia in their first warm-up game. Despite missing several players, Australia beat Namibia by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare. Josh Hazlewood starred in the win with an exceptional spell as he bowled three maidens, conceded just five runs and bagged two wickets.
 

Hazlewood sets the tone

Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Hazlewood with a wicket-maiden. Michael van Lingen departed for a two-ball duck. Nikolaas Davind hit Ashton Agar for three boundaries in an over. Hazlewood bowled another maiden over. In his third over, he got the wicket of Davin as well. After powerplay overs, Namibia were 22/2. Adam Zampa struck in his first over dismissing Jan Frylinck lbw. In his second over, Zampa dismissed JP Kotze who scored 13 runs from 26 deliveries. Tim David joined the party and got the wicket of JJ Smit. Namibia lost half the side for 48.

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Zampa continued to strike. Gerhard Erasmus departed after scoring 15 runs from 17 balls. Malan Kruger and Zane Green tried to accelerate. Hazlewood was brought back into the attack in the 15th over. Kruger got run out for an 11-ball 18. In the slog overs, Green pushed Namibia's score. He hit David for three consecutive fours in the penultimate over. In the last over bowled by Nathan Ellis, Green departed for a 30-ball 38. On the last ball, David Wiese was run out for a 13-ball 12. Namibia managed to post 119/9.
 

Warner hits fifty

In the first over of the run chase, three boundaries were scored. Marsh went after Ruben Trumpelmann and hit him for three fours in the 21-run over. Marsh got run out for a 14-ball 18 in the fourth over. Josh Inglis could not make an impact and got bowled for a single-digit score by Bernard Scholtz. David hit the first six of the innings in the sixth over. Australia were 61/2 after powerplay overs. Warner went after Trumpelmann hitting him for two sixes and a four. In the ninth over, Scholtz was brought back into the attack. David lost his wicket for a 16-ball 23. In the 10th over, Warner reached his half-century with a six. He finished the run chase with a boundary. The opener scored 54 runs from 21 balls as Australia won by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare.
 

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