IRE beat NAM by 27 runs | Ireland vs Namibia, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd Place Play-off T20 Match - Commentary

So, 136 to chase. Will the Irish mange to defend this paltry total or will the Namibians finish third in the ICC T20 World Cup? Join us in a little while for the chase.

Zhivago Groenewald is there for an interview, says he is glad with his performance. Adds that he executed the right lines and lengths. Mentions the wicket helped him a lot. Zhivago also says they would want their batsmen to chase this total and they have many big hitters in their team.

Ireland, on the other hand, were poor with the bat. The openers along with Andy Balbirnie played well but they threw away their wickets which initiated a collapse. They lost wickets in a heap and could only score 135. They are looking down the barrel and will have to bowl really well to restrict the African nation.

It has been an excellent bowling performance by Namibia. They have done well to restrict Ireland under 150. After a strong start from the Irish, they came back well to send back the openers cheaply. All their bowlers did their job and are now looking really good to finish in the top three.

JJ Smit to Boyd Rankin. OUT! BOWLED! Namibia have finished this emphatically! This is excellent bowling from JJ Smit! Fullish delivery on middle and leg, Rankin looks to drive it but misses it completely. The ball goes on to hit the leg stump. IRELAND ARE ALL OUT FOR 135.

Craig Williams to Craig Young. On a good length on off, Young looks to drive but gets a bottom edge on this one.

Boyd Rankin is the last man in.

Craig Williams to Mark Adair. OUT! CAUGHT! Williams bowls a short of a length delivery, Adair pulls it over mid-wicket but does not get the distance on it. It goes towards Nikolaas Davin who takes a comfortable catch in the deep.

Craig Williams to Mark Adair. Full toss on middle, Adair drives it through mid on. The batsmen pick up a couple.

Craig Williams to Mark Adair. SIX! Back-to-back maximums for Mark Adair. On a length on middle, Adair lofts it over long on again for a biggie.

Craig Williams to Mark Adair. SIX! That is huge! Length delivery on middle, Adair lofts it over long on for a maximum.

Craig Williams to Craig Young. On a good length on off, Young plays it towards the bowler. Williams goes for a direct hit at the keeper's end but misses the stumps. The batsmen take a single.

Craig Young is the new man in.

JJ Smit to Simi Singh. OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust! Ireland are looking down and out now! Slower delivery on middle, Simi looks to play a lofted shot over the deep mid-wicket region but fails to do so. Christi Viljoen settles under it at deep mid-wicket and takes a simple catch.

JJ Smit to Simi Singh. Good length ball outside off, Simi looks to cut it but fails to put any bat on it.

JJ Smit to Simi Singh. RUN OUT CHANCE MISSED! Good length ball on middle, Singh flicks it towards mid-wicket and looks to take a single but sends back Adair. The fielder at mid-wicket has a shy at the bowler's end but misses it. The fielder at cover has another chance to complete the run out but he too misses. Lucky break for Adair here.

JJ Smit to Mark Adair. Full delivery on middle, Mark drives this towards the long off fielder and takes a single.

Simi Singh is the next batsman in.

JJ Smit to Shane Getkate. OUT! CAUGHT! The wheels are falling of for the Irish in search of quick runs. Full delivery outside off, Getkate looks to loft this over long off but does not time it well. Nikolaas Davin comes under it from long off and takes a simple catch.

JJ Smit to Mark Adair. Good length ball on middle, Mark flicks it towards the leg side and takes a single.

JJ Smit is back on. 2-0-17-0 are his figures so far.

Craig Williams to Mark Adair. On a length on middle, Adair flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen take a run.

Mark Adair replaces his skipper out in the middle.

Craig Williams to Gary Wilson. OUT! TIMBER! The skipper departs. On a good length on off, Wilson looks to guide it towards third man but misses it due to the movement off the pitch. He gets cleaned up in the process. Gary Wilson was looking very uncomfortable in his stay out there.

Craig Williams to Gary Wilson. Full delivery on off, Wilson drives it through point. The batsmen get two runs.

Craig Williams to Shane Getkate. Full delivery on middle, Getkate flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen take a single.

Craig Williams to Shane Getkate. On a length on off, Getkate punches it through point. The batsmen pick up a couple.

Craig Williams to Gary Wilson. Short delivery on middle, Wilson pulls it through mid-wicket. The batsmen take a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Shane Getkate. Full delivery on middle, Shane defends it off the front foot.

Bernard Scholtz to Shane Getkate. Flighted delivery on off, Getkate looks to flick but gets a leading edge towards the cover region. The fielder there thought for a moment that he was in business but the ball was way wide. The batters take a couple.

Bernard Scholtz to Gary Wilson. Flatter delivery outside off, Gary pushes it towards the point region and crosses over for a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Shane Getkate. Full delivery on middle, Shane flicks it towards the leg side and takes a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Shane Getkate. Flighted delivery outside off, Getkate looks to drive but fails to put any bat on it.

Bernard Scholtz to Gary Wilson. Floated ball on middle, Gary sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket and takes a single.

Shane Getkate is the next batsman in.

Craig Williams to Andy Balbirnie. OUT! CAUGHT! Balbirnie falls after playing a breezy knock. Short delivery on middle, Andy looks to pull but does not time it well at all. The ball goes straight into the hands of Ben Shikongo at deep square leg who did not move an inch. Ireland are crumbling here as they are losing wickets in search of quick runs. This is not what they need.

Craig Williams to Gary Wilson. Punched off the back foot by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Craig Williams to Andy Balbirnie. Good length ball on off, Andy looks to cut but goes off the inside edge and into the pitch. He calls Wilson for a single but Williams is aware and he runs to collect the ball. He collects it and hits the stumps at the keeper's end but the batsman was well in.

Craig Williams to Gary Wilson. Good length ball on off, Gary guides it towards third man and takes a single.

Craig Williams to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on middle, Andy flicks it towards the mid-wicket region and takes a single.

Craig Williams to Andy Balbirnie. Good length ball on middle and leg, Andy Balbirnie looks to flick it but it hits the pads and into the pitch. No run.

Craig Williams is back on. 1-0-8-0 are his figures so far.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Flighted delivery on middle, Balbirnie flicks it towards mid-wicket. The batsmen take a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Gary Wilson. Tossed up delivery on middle, Wilson flicks it towards square leg for a run.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. TOP EDGE BUT SAFE! Flighted delivery on off, Balbirnie looks to loft it over mid off but gets a top edge. It goes towards mid off where the fielder from long off runs forward and goes for the catch but it falls short of him. The batsmen take a run in the process. 100 up for Ireland.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Floated delivery just outside off, Balbirnie looks to sweep but misses it.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Tossed up delivery on middle, Balbirnie keeps it out.

Bernard Scholtz to Gary Wilson. Flighted delivery on middle, Wilson flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Bernard Scholtz is back on. 2-0-20-1 are his figures so far.

Gerhard Erasmus to Gary Wilson. Full delivery on middle, Wilson plays the reverse sweep towards the cover region and takes a single.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery outside off, Balbirnie plays a drive towards the cover region and takes a single.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Flighted ball on middle, Andy flicks it off his pads towards the leg side and takes a couple.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on middle, Balbirnie defends it back to the bowler.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Beautifully played! Flighted ball on middle, Andy plays the slog sweep towards the deep square leg region for another boundary.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on middle, Andy flicks it towards the mid-wicket region and calls his partner for a couple.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. WIDE! Short delivery way outside off, Balbirnie leaves it alone. It is wided.

Zhivago Groenewald to Gary Wilson. Full delivery on middle, Gary defends it off the front foot. Excellent spell from Groenewald comes to an end. His figures are 4-0-20-2.

Zhivago Groenewald to Andy Balbirnie. Flighted delivery on middle, Andy flicks it towards mid-wicket and takes a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Gary Wilson. The batsman gets to the pitch of the ball and defends it. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Gary Wilson, the skipper, is the new batsman in.

Zhivago Groenewald to Harry Tector. OUT! LBW! Tector perishes! Namibia are on the top now. Flatter delivery on off, Tector premeditates to play the slog sweep but misses it completely. The ball hits the pads and the Namibian players put in an appeal. The umpire raises his finger and sends Harry back to the pavilion.

Zhivago Groenewald to Harry Tector. Another short ball on off, Tector guides it to third man for nothing.

Zhivago Groenewald to Andy Balbirnie. Short ball outside off, Balbirnie cuts it towards the cover region and takes a single.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Tossed up delivery on off, Andy lofts it over mid off. The batsmen take a run.

Gerhard Erasmus to Harry Tector. Tossed up delivery on middle, Tector flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen cross ends.

Gerhard Erasmus to Harry Tector. Flighted delivery on middle, Tector flicks it through square leg. The batsmen get two runs.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Floated delivery on leg, Balbirnie sweeps it towards fine leg for a single.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Tossed up delivery on middle, Balbirnie flicks it to mid-wicket.

Gerhard Erasmus to Andy Balbirnie. Flighted delivery on middle, Balbirnie flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen get two runs.

Gerhard Erasmus, the skipper, is into the attack.

Zhivago Groenewald to Andy Balbirnie. Short ball outside off, Andy punches this off the back foot towards cover and takes a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Harry Tector. Flighted ball outside off, Tector plays a late cut towards short third man and crosses over for a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on off, pushes it to cover region and takes a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Harry Tector. Short ball on middle, Harry pushes it towards the cover region and takes a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Harry Tector. Full delivery on middle, Tector flicks it towards the deep square leg region and takes a couple before the fielder can stop it. Harry is off the mark with that one.

Harry Tector walks out to bat next.

Zhivago Groenewald to Gareth Delany. OUT! BOWLED! The cut shot does not work this time for Delany. Quicker delivery on off, Delany looks to cut but is cramped for room. He misses and the ball goes on to hit the top of off stump. Namibia are on top here. The Irish desperately need a partnership here.

Zhivago Groenewald is back into the attack. 2-0-11-0 are his figures so far.

Bernard Scholtz to Gareth Delany. Flatter delivery on middle, Delany cuts it towards the backward point region and takes three. The fielder runs after it and cleans it up.

Bernard Scholtz to Gareth Delany. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on middle and leg, Balbirnie flicks it towards the deep mid-wicket region and takes a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! This is excellent batting! Another short delivery outside off, Balbirnie rocks on his back foot and plays another square cut towards the backward point region for another boundary.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Nicely played! Scholtz bowls a short delivery outside off, Andy rocks on his back foot and cuts it towards the backward point region for another boundary.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Flatter delivery on middle and leg, Balbirnie defends it to cover for nothing.

JJ Smit to Gareth Delany. BEATEN! On a good length and outside off, Delany looks to drive but misses it.

JJ Smit to Andy Balbirnie. Length delivery on middle, Andy flicks it through square leg for a run.

JJ Smit to Gareth Delany. Bowls a yorker on middle, Delany does well to dig it out and plays it towards mid on. The batsmen take a single.

JJ Smit to Gareth Delany. Play and a miss! On a good length and outside off, Delany looks to defend but misses it.

JJ Smit to Andy Balbirnie. On a length on off, Balbirnie guides it towards third man for a run.

JJ Smit to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Powerful shot. Short of a length delivery, Balbirnie pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

JJ Smit is back into the attack. 1-0-10-0 are his figures so far.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Short ball outside off, Andy pushes it towards the cover region and takes a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Loopy ball on middle, Andy plays the sweep shot towards the deep square leg region for a couple.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on middle, Andy defends it off the front foot.

Gareth Delany is the new man in.

Bernard Scholtz to Paul Stirling. OUT! CAUGHT! Good comeback by Bernard after giving a boundary off the first ball. Floated delivery outside off, Paul comes down the track and looks to loft it straight down the ground but does not middle it well. JP Kotze runs forward from long on and takes a simple catch. After a strong start, Ireland have lost two quick wickets.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on middle, Andy plays the sweep shot towards the deep square leg region for a single.

Bernard Scholtz to Andy Balbirnie. FOUR! Lovely shot! Scholtz starts with a flighted ball outside off, Andy plays an extra cover drive off his front foot and over the fielder for his first boundary of the game.

Bernard Scholtz is into the attack.

Craig Williams to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery on off, Andy pushes it towards the mid off region and takes a single. 44 runs have come off the Powerplay.

Craig Williams to Paul Stirling. On a length outside off, Paul pushes it towards the point region and calls his partner for a single.

Craig Williams to Andy Balbirnie. Full delivery outside off, Andy pushes it towards the cover fielder and gets off the mark with that single.

Craig Williams to Paul Stirling. On a length outside off, Paul defends it towards the cover region and takes off for a quick single.

Craig Williams to Paul Stirling. Good length ball on off, Paul defends it towards the off side.

Craig Williams to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Welcome to the crease Mr. Williams. Craig bowls a short delivery way outside off, Stirling frees his arms and plays the square cut towards the cover region for a boundary. Poor start to the over for the Namibians.

Craig Williams is into the attack.

Ben Shikongo to Paul Stirling. Good length ball on middle, Paul flicks it towards the leg side for a single. Good over for Namibia comes to an end.

Andy Balbirnie is the new batsman in.

Ben Shikongo to Kevin O'Brien. OUT! CAUGHT! Kevin O'Brien after making another start has to make the long walk back to the pavilion. Shikongo bowls another short ball on middle, O'Brien looks to pull it but it goes off the top edge towards square leg. Nikolaas Davin runs in from the deep and dives in front to take an excellent catch.

Ben Shikongo to Kevin O'Brien. Short ball on middle, Kevin pulls it towards the mid-wicket region and takes another couple.

Ben Shikongo to Kevin O'Brien. Good length ball on middle, Kevin defends it back to the bowler.

Ben Shikongo to Kevin O'Brien. Good length ball down the leg side, Kevin makes room towards the leg side and flicks it towards the backward square leg region. He calls Stirling for a couple but is late in turning around. The fielder throws it to the keeper who takes out the stump. He appeals but nothing from the umpire. Replays show that he was just in.

Ben Shikongo to Paul Stirling. Starts with a good length delivery outside off, Paul defends it towards point and takes off for a single.

Ben Shikongo is into the attack.

JJ Smit to Paul Stirling. On a length on middle, Stirling flicks it through mid-wicket for a run. 10 runs have come from the over.

JJ Smit to Kevin O'Brien. Short of a length delivery, O'Brien pulls it over mid-wicket. The batsmen cross ends.

JJ Smit to Kevin O'Brien. Length delivery on middle, Kevin flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen pick up a couple.

JJ Smit to Paul Stirling. On a length on middle, Stirling flicks it towards square leg for a run.

JJ Smit to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Nice shot. Full and outside off, Stirling drives it beautifully through covers for a boundary.

JJ Smit to Kevin O'Brien. Length delivery on middle, O'Brien flicks it through square leg for a single.

JJ Smit is into the attack.

Zhivago Groenewald to Kevin O'Brien. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. They pick up a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Kevin O'Brien. Another flighted delivery on middle, O'Brien looks to play the slog sweep again but gets hit on the pads. No run.

Zhivago Groenewald to Kevin O'Brien. SIX! Brilliant shot! Full delivery on middle, Kevin goes on his knees and plays the slog sweep towards the deep square leg region for a huge maximum.

Zhivago Groenewald to Kevin O'Brien. Short ball on middle, Kevin defends it off the back foot.

Zhivago Groenewald to Paul Stirling. Flighted ball on middle and leg, Paul makes room towards the leg side and drives it to mid off for a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Paul Stirling. Full delivery on middle, Stirling pushes it back to the bowler.

Christi Viljoen to Paul Stirling. Full delivery on middle, Paul flicks it towards deep square leg for a single.

Christi Viljoen to Paul Stirling. Good length ball on middle, Stirling flicks it towards the leg side.

Christi Viljoen to Paul Stirling. FOUR! This is clever batting from Paul! Viljoen bowls a short delivery outside off, Stirling plays an upper cut towards the third man region for another boundary.

Christi Viljoen to Paul Stirling. FOUR! Stand and deliver! Short delivery outside off, Stirling rocks on his back back and creams the drive through the cover region into the fence. First boundary of the game.

Christi Viljoen to Paul Stirling. On a length outside off, Stirling cuts it off the back foot towards cover for nothing.

Christi Viljoen to Paul Stirling. Good length ball on off, swinging into the batsman, Stirling defends it off the back foot towards cover.

Christi Viljoen to bowl from the other end.

Zhivago Groenewald to Kevin O'Brien. Flat delivery on off, Kevin makes room for himself towards the leg side and looks for the drive but it goes off the edge towards the third man region and by the time the fielder can cut it off, the batters take a couple.

Zhivago Groenewald to Kevin O'Brien. Flatter delivery on middle, Kevin looks to defend but it goes off the inside edge onto his pads. No harm done.

Zhivago Groenewald to Kevin O'Brien. Full delivery on middle, O'Brien defends it off the front foot.

Zhivago Groenewald to Paul Stirling. Fullish delivery on middle, Paul flicks it to mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a single.

Zhivago Groenewald to Paul Stirling. Full delivery on middle, Stirling pushes it back to the bowler.

Zhivago Groenewald to Paul Stirling. Starts with a full delivery on off, Paul defends it off the front foot towards the bowler.

We are all set to begin! Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien make their way out to the middle. The Namibian players are also out in the middle. Zhivago Groenewald will open the bowling for Namibia.

Pitch report - Ed Rainsford is there for the pitch report, he says there is bit of cloud cover but nothing threatening. Adds that the outfield is fast. Says the seamers have enjoyed the conditions here. Bazid Khan says that the pitch has been watered regularly to make it firm. Says that there has not been a close finish in this tournament and he hopes today they see one.

Gerhard Erasmus, Namibia skipper says they would also have batted first. Adds the playing conditions are good here. Mentions they would look to finish atleast third in the tournament. Informs they are playing the same team.

Gary Wilson, the Ireland skipper, says that they will bat first. Adds that they would feel comfortable batting today and there is a bit of grass on the wicket which they would look to use to their advantage. Further says they would have been happier to be in the final.

Namibia (PLAYING XI) - Stephan Baard, Nikolaas Davin , JP Kotze, Craig Williams, Gerhard Erasmus (C), Zane Green (WK), JJ Smit, Christi Viljoen, Zhivago Groenewald, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo.

Ireland (PLAYING XI) - Paul Stirling, Kevin O'Brien, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector, Gary Wilson(c and wk), Craig Young, Shane Getkate (IN FOR GEORGE DOCKRELL), Boyd Rankin, Simi Singh (IN FOR STUART THOMPSON).

Toss - Up goes the coin and Ireland have won the toss. They will bat first.

Hello and a warm welcome to our coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier between Ireland and Namibia. The Irish topped their group but their batting faltered in the last game giving them no chance to qualify for the final. They would want to finish on a high. They are up against a side who had won five games on the trot before losing to Papua New Guinea i.e. Namibia. The African nation were also poor with the bat and would hope for a good performance and beat a Test playing nation for the first time. An exciting contest awaits us. Toss and team updates in a while.