Namibia beat Ireland to book Super 12 spot

NAMIBIA booked a spot in the Super 12 stage of the Cricket World Cup with an emphatic eight-wicket victory against Ireland in Sharjah.

Namibia restricted Ireland to 125/7 and then reached 126/2 with nine balls remaining to pull off a great win.

Captain Gerhard Erasmus took them to victory with a graet knock of 53 not out off 49 balls, while David Wiese added 28 not out off 14, Zane Green 24, and Craig Williams 15.

In Ireland's innings, Paul Stirling scored 38, Kevin O Brien 25 and Andy Balbirnie whiel Jan Frylinck took 3/21.

Namibia now go through to Group 2 of the Super 12 stage where they will face India, Pakistan. New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scoptland.

David Wise, who won the player of the match award, paid tribute to Erasmus' contribution.

"It's completely overwhelming. I don't think I deserve to be sitting here. I think the captain Gerhard Erasmus deserves to be Man of the Match. This is really his moment and the rest of the team has put in so much work before now to be here. I've played in Sharjah a few times and know the wicket deteriorates to suit my bowling a bit more."

Erasmus said they stood up when the pressure was on.

Ï said at a press conference that we run a tight ship. We are a small country, with a small number of people that play cricket. We should be proud of ourselves. I count on my senior men to stand up when the pressure is on. And two of us did it tonight. Hopefully we can do it through the tournament. Hasn't sunk in yet, maybe on the way home.”

Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie was very disappointed.

Ït hurts a lot, we really wanted to win. We didn't get enough runs. It will be hard to get over it, and it hurts a lot. I think Wiese played a brilliant hand when the rate was at eight, and their skipper saw them home. There are lot of good cricketers there in Namibia, it wasn't to be.”