England Vs Namibia, T20 World Cup Highlights: Buttler Breathes Easy As ENG Secure Crucial 41-Run Win

English side battled past both relentless Antigua rain and a spirited Namibia to stake their claim for the second and final Super 8 spot from Group B. After almost three hours of delay due to incessant rain, the play finally began with Namibia putting the defending champions to bat in an 11-over per side contest which was soon shortened to 10. Despite two early wickets, England were able to reach 122/5 largely due to Harry Brook 20-ball 47 not out. Namibia chasing 127 due to DLS adjustments tried but fell 41 runs short of the target. The win puts England in good position to grab the Super 8 spot as only a win against Australia can help Scotland overtake England in the race. (Scorecard)

England: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley and Mark Wood.

Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Michael Van Lingen, Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Niko Davin, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze, David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger and PD Blignaut.

England have never faced Namibia in a T20I.

The toss is delayed due to rain, and it's raining heavily now. We have a buffer of 90 minutes, and will start to lose overs after 14:00 local time.

The field is damp, and the prospects of a quick return to play are dim. Nevertheless, England retains optimism amidst the delay.

Soon we will start losing overs. However, the prospects of the match taking place remain uncertain. The next update is scheduled for 12:30 AM IST. The wait continues.

We have an update! If there's no further rain, the toss will take place at 15:40 Local Time, 1:10 am IST with the first ball scheduled for 16:00, 1:30 am IST. It will be an 11-overs-per-side encounter.

Namibia win the toss, choose to field first.

Namibia: Nikolaas Davin, Michael van Lingen, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze, Gerhard Erasmus(c), JJ Smit, David Wiese, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Jack Brassell

England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w/c), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

The powerplay will be for 3 overs and only one bowler can bowl a maximum of 3 overs.

Philip Salt plays back of a length delivery towards cover and opens his account with a swift single.

England 1/0

In just two overs, England faced a setback as both their openers were dismissed. On a delivery clocking 106.9kph, David Wiese's knuckle ball deceived Philip Salt, who mistimed his punch and edged it to keeper Zane Green. Salt departed after scoring 11 runs off 8 balls with two boundaries.

England 23/2

Jonny Bairstow smashes Bernard Scholtz for a boundary and follows it up with a commanding six! Bairstow drives a half-volley, aimed at the off stump, with a powerful slog shot. The ball sails effortlessly over long-on, perfectly timed and controlled, earning him six runs.

England 52/2

Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook are reviving England's innings with powerful strokes. Bairstow smashes Gerhard Erasmus for a six, pulling a length ball down the leg side over deep mid-wicket with precise timing and control. Meanwhile, Brook attacks Erasmus for a boundary, making room to cut a quick delivery on the stumps through the off-side behind square, finding the gap effectively.

England 69/2

After Scholtz Dismisses Bairstow, Rain Halts Play! Umbrellas are up again.

Now both teams got 10 overs each.

With overs reduced, England find themselves adapting to the situation. Harry Brook manages two runs off Jack Brassell's delivery as he attempts to whip the ball but doesn't quite time it well. In the following ball, Brassell targets a backing away Brook who chips it through midwicket with an inner edge for another two runs. Switching to round the wicket, Brassell delivers a length ball to Moeen Ali, who shuffles and swings it to deep backward square leg for a single.

England 101/3

Another crucial match between Scotland and Australia is set to take place at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, with the action starting at 6:00 AM IST.

After claiming a significant wicket, Trumpelmann concedes a six. Liam Livingstone goes one-handed, letting the bottom hand slip from the bat handle as he shuffles to swing across the line. He dispatches the length ball over deep backward square leg for a massive 69-meter six.

England 122/5

England's innings got off to a tough start during the powerplay as Buttler's dismissal for a duck caused real concern. However, Bairstow and Brook steadied the ship, with Moeen and Livingstone adding late runs. Brook played a crucial unbeaten innings, scoring 47 runs off just 20 balls. The DLS-adjusted target for the opposition will now be 127.

Still got to assess the pitch even though it's a 10-over game. Wiese bowled well and we did well to get to 122. The pitch was under covers and sweated a bit, the guys will be looking to get plenty of revs on it when we bowl. From this end, Brooky got a cross-seamer which took a chunk off the pitch. We will look to bowl tidily and use our brains. Not that much with Brooky, you just let him bat. Good relation with him and we have known each other for long, the plan was to take our time and then backload with the guys like Mo and Livi to come.

Topley delivers to Davin, who defends with a jab to cover-point. In the next ball, Topley bowls full outside off to Michael van Lingen, who leans forward and pushes it to mid-on for a swift single.

Namibia 6/0

Jofra Archer to Michael van Lingen: SIX! A short ball leads to a top-edge on the pull shot, soaring behind Buttler for a maximum. In the next delivery, Michael van Lingen manages FOUR runs, despite not seeing the ball, as his pull shot's top-edge bounces over the fine-leg boundary.

Namibia 18/0

Sam Curran bowls short on the stumps, Davin pulls and the top-edge evades third man to his left for a fortunate boundary.

Namibia 32/0

Adil Rashid bowls a tossed-up delivery outside leg stump, and Michael van Lingen steps down the track to loft it massively over deep mid-wicket for a six. Rashid can't believe it.

Namibia 49/1

Namibia have retired Nikolaas Davin after his steady innings. David Wiese is the new man at the crease.

Namibia 66/1

Adil Rashid to Wiese:

FOUR! Short and wide, Wiese punches over extra-cover, one bounce over the ropes.

SIX! Full on the stumps, Wiese slogsweeps 87m over deep mid-wicket.

SIX! Short outside off, Wiese pummels it over long-off.

Namibia 82/3

Jordan to Michael van Lingen, out Caught by Harry Brook! Full and in the slot, van Lingen lofts it to long-on where Brook moves to his right and leaps to take a good catch with both hands. Michael van Lingen c Harry Brook b Jordan 33(29) [4s-1 6s-3].

Namibia 84/3

England have done what they can, defeating Namibia by 41 runs. Now, all eyes are on the Australia vs. Scotland match later. Rain nearly threatened to put England out of the tournament.

David Wiese made a significant impact after stepping in for Davin, who retired mid-game. In what could potentially be his final international appearance for Namibia, Wiese's quick-fire 27 off 12 balls against Adil Rashid showcased his value and determination on the field in Antigua.

There was a lot of anxiety going around, we didn't quite think we were going to get out there. Thankfully it stopped (raining) and we got the game. We batted first, we took quite a bit of information from our batting to the fielding. Topley started beautifully. It was tough from them. Facing spin in the middle was quite tough, didn't quite know how it's going to come off the pitch. I just tried to stick in there, I was trying to hit boundaries. I am glad I got a few runs. He (Bairstow) was just banging it, he was trying to smack. He batted beautifully there. Hopefully I can stay up for it.

A big relief, a stressful day, but we put in a good performance, well prepared when we did play, and played well. After I got out, thought 85-90 might be a good score, the way it was sticking in the wicket, but Bairstow and Brook a good partnership. Class players, not much time in the middle but they created something. We've had two games rained off in England and the Scotland game, but we've done all we can do.

The long yet, short game has concluded. Now, all attention turns to Australia vs. Scotland. See you soon!