NZ vs NAM Ball by Ball Commentary

1:33 PM IST Right then! That is all we have from this game. The next clash will be between India and Scotland. It is going to be played in Dubai at 6 pm Local (2 pm GMT). Do join us for the same by switching tabs!

1:35 PM IST Kane Williamson, the skipper of New Zealand, says that they knew what to expect when they came to Sharjah. Adds that the surface was a challenging one so they were looking to get to a par score and tried to exploit the shorter boundary. Tells that they were looking to get a couple of big overs in with the bat in the end and they managed to do so. Says that Afghanistan is a fantastic team and they are playing really good cricket in this tournament, they will have to play well against them in the next game.

1:36 PM IST The Namibian skipper, Gerhard Erasmus, thinks that they bowled well till the 16th over, but the death overs did not go their way yet again. They will try to nail that against a good Indian side. Mentions it was quite a tough pitch and 160 runs were quite too much for today. Finishes by saying that he needs to go back home and nurse his finger.

1:26 PM IST James Neesham is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! He says that they did what they had to do with the bat and they were eager to win this match. Tells that it was a tough surface to bat on so they were looking to run hard in the middle and look for boundaries less often. Adds that he is working on his bowling and he is ready whenever he is asked to bowl.

1:24 PM IST Stay tuned for the presentation.

1:24 PM IST It was a brilliant show with the ball by New Zealand. Their bowlers have been in good form in the competition and they delivered yet again here. The pacers bowled in good regions up front to make sure that Namibia are not off to a flier. Then, the spin duo of Santner and Sodhi strangled the batting in the middle overs to make sure that New Zealand are always on top of the game. All the bowlers with the exception of Milne took at least a wicket with Southee and Boult taking 2 each and the rest taking 1 apiece. But the win was set up by James Neesham and Glenn Phillips. The way they batted in the last few overs of New Zealand's innings, put New Zealand in a comfortable position.

1:22 PM IST The target wasn't the biggest for Namibia but on this pitch and against a quality attack, it was going to be a challenge. They needed a good start at the top. Stephan Baard and Michael Van Lingen did get a steady start but the scoring rate was slow. But after their departure, Namibia were in big trouble. Wickets kept falling and the required rate was climbing up. Zane Green and David Wiese did try to provide some momentum but failed and perished and after that, they had no chance to make a recovery and fell short by 22 runs.

1:21 PM IST Another clinical win for New Zealand and this will help their cause as they try to make it to the semi-finals. Namibia would be disappointed though. If they had finished well with the ball, they would have needed to chase a lower target against this quality bowling attack.

1:19 PM IST Swing and a miss! Slower bouncer, on middle. Smit makes room and looks to chase it but misses. NEW ZEALAND WIN THE GAME BY 52 RUNS.

1:19 PM IST Fuller, around off. Smit pushes it to cover but straight to the fielder.

1:18 PM IST Slower short ball, outside off. Smit looks to heave it away but misses.

1:17 PM IST Full and on off. Ruben Trumpelmann hits it towards long on. The ball just evades his partner at the other end. They take one.

1:17 PM IST FOUR! Up and over! A full-length ball, on off. Ruben Trumpelmann lifts it over mid off and bags a boundary.

1:16 PM IST Swing and a miss! Slower delivery, length and outside off. Ruben Trumpelmann looks to have a poke at it but misses.

1:16 PM IST Adam Milne to bowl the last over of the innings.

1:15 PM IST Full and outside off. Ruben Trumpelmann pushes it towards point and gets a single. A great over by Boult, two wickets coming off it.

1:14 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Craig Williams departs now. He goes back on a duck. Full-length ball, on off. Williams throws his bat at it. The ball takes the outside edge and lobs towards backward point. Glenn Phillips pouches it comfortably. Boult has made a strong impact in the death overs.

1:15 PM IST Ruben Trumpelmann is the new man in.

1:13 PM IST WIDE! Full-length ball, wide outside off. Williams looks to chase it but misses. The umpire calls it as a wide.

1:12 PM IST Play and a miss! A wide yorker, outside off. Williams looks to push it out but misses.

1:11 PM IST Full and on off. Smit hits it towards long off for a single.

1:11 PM IST Craig Williams is the new man in.

1:11 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust. Boult bangs in a short ball, around off. Nicol Loftie-Eaton makes room and looks to upper cut it. The ball takes the toe end of the blade and chips towards mid off. Martin Guptill keeps his eyes on the balls, runs backward and takes a sharp catch.

1:10 PM IST Boult fires in a yorker, in the blockhole. Nicol Loftie-Eaton stays back and digs it out.

1:09 PM IST WIDE! Good length, outside off. Nicol Loftie-Eaton leaves it alone. Wide called.

1:08 PM IST A great over by Southee. He continues his good run in this campaign. Full length, just outside the off pole. Smit looks to push it to the off side but misses.

1:08 PM IST Nicol Loftie-Eaton walks out to bat.

1:07 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Tim Southee has the last laugh here. Zane Green looks to attack yet again, but perishes this time. Southee serves it on a length, around middle and off. Green heaves across the line. The ball lofts towards long on. Boult runs in front of him, puts in a low dive forward to grab the ball cleanly.

1:06 PM IST FOUR! A much-needed boundary for Namibia. Slower ball, full and around off. Green gets under it and smacks it towards long on. This boundary also brings up 100 for Namibia.

1:05 PM IST On a length, around off. Smit pushes it to cover for a single.

1:05 PM IST Swing and a miss! Southee with a nice off-pace delivery with this. Length, top on off. Smit swings hard at it, but misses. The ball evades the stumps in the end.

1:04 PM IST A length ball, around off. Green drags his pull shot towards square leg for a single.

1:04 PM IST Tim Southee (3-0-9-1) is back on.

1:03 PM IST Boult again fires in a yorker, on leg. Green digs it out to mid-wicket for a single.

1:02 PM IST Great bowling by Boult! He sees Green coming across and fires in a yorker, around leg. Green looks to dig it out but misses. The ball goes to the keeper.

1:02 PM IST A sharp bouncer, around off. Green looks to chase it but misses. Both the umpires share a look and decide it's the first bouncer of the over and not a wide.

1:01 PM IST A length ball, on top of leg. Green comes across and looks to scoop it over the keeper's head, but misses it completely.

1:00 PM IST A single now! Full, around off. Smit pushes it through covers for a single.

1:00 PM IST A length ball, outside off, angling across the batter. Smit punches it through point for a couple of runs.

1:00 PM IST Trent Boult (2-0-12-0) is back on.

12:59 PM IST Leg bye! Full ball, darted on the pads. JJ Smit misses his flick and gets hit on the pad. The ball rolls away for a leg bye! 72 runs needed off 24 balls!

12:58 PM IST FOUR! Top shot! Length ball, outside off. JJ Smit prods and carves it through covers to collect a boundary.

12:58 PM IST Back of a length, outside off. JJ Smit stays back and steers it to point.

12:57 PM IST Back of a length, around off. JJ Smit cuts hard but Martin Guptill at backward point puts in a dive and stops the ball.

12:56 PM IST Beaten! Good-length ball, coming back in sharply from outside off. JJ Smit stays back and looks to push it through covers but he misses and the ball just goes past the off stump.

12:56 PM IST Short of a length, outside off. Zane Green guides it to third man for a single.

12:56 PM IST Change. Adam Milne is back on. He went for 15 in his first two overs.

12:55 PM IST Short of a length, outside off. JJ Smit punches it to cover.

12:54 PM IST Back of a length, around middle. JJ Smit looks to pull but he misses and gets hit on the box.

12:54 PM IST Review time! New Zealand have reviewed this for LBW. Well, there is an inside edge on it.

12:54 PM IST NOT OUT! New Zealand lose a review here! Good-length ball, jagging back in from middle and leg. JJ Smit looks to flick but he misses and gets hit on the pads. Kane Williamson opts for a review but the UltraEdge shows that there was an inside edge before the ball hit the pad.

12:52 PM IST Who will bat now? JJ Smit it is.

12:52 PM IST OUT! LBW! Huge wicket in the context of this game and the Kiwis are delighted! Length ball, around off, jagging back in sharply. David Wiese looks to play it across the line and he misses. The ball hits him on the pad and Tim Southee puts in an appeal. The umpire raises his finger in no time.

12:50 PM IST Good-length ball, around off. Zane Green looks to drive but it takes the outside edge towards third man. The batters cross for a single.

12:50 PM IST Short of a length, outside off. Zane Green looks to heave it to the leg side but he misses.

12:52 PM IST Change. Tim Southee is back on.

12:48 PM IST Flatter ball, outside off. Zane Green falt-bats it to long off for a single. 79 runs needed off 36 balls.

12:48 PM IST SIX! BOOM! Tossed up, around middle. Zane Green slog-sweeps it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie! Namibia need more of these!

12:47 PM IST Flatter ball, on middle. David Wiese tucks it to the leg side for one.

12:46 PM IST A bit quicker, around off, the ball stays a bit low and David Wiese pushes it back to the bowler.

12:46 PM IST Flatter ball, darted on the pads. David Wiese misses his nudge and gets hit on the pad.

12:45 PM IST SIX! WHACKED! Tossed up, around off. David Wiese skips down and smacks it over long off for a maximum!

12:45 PM IST Wide! Too wide, outside off. David Wiese lets it be. Wide called.

12:44 PM IST Three dots in a row! Flatter and quicker, around middle. Zane Green turns it to mid-wicket. Another tidy over from Mitchell Santner and that brings ann end to his spell!

12:43 PM IST Flatter ball, around off. Zane Green punches it to covers.

12:44 PM IST Fuller in length, around middle. Zane Green digs it out to mid-wicket.

12:43 PM IST A quicker ball, outside off. David Wiese stays back and cuts it to sweeper cover. A single taken!

12:42 PM IST Flatter ball, on middle. Zane Green eases it to long on for a single.

12:42 PM IST Flatter ball, around off. Zane Green looks to cut but it goes off the inner half back to the bowler.

12:41 PM IST A single as this is hit to long off.

12:40 PM IST Shorter ball, outside off. Green cuts it past covers for a couple.

12:40 PM IST Loopy ball, outside off. Green hits it towards point.

12:40 PM IST Flatter ball, on off. Pushed to the leg side. Sodhi gathers it himself.

12:39 PM IST Shorter ball, on off. Cut away to deep point for one.

12:39 PM IST Flatter, down the leg side. Wiese misses the flick. Wide called.

12:37 PM IST Woah! That is nasty! David Wiese has hit this one straight back to Ish Sodhi and he has been hit on his forehead!

12:38 PM IST Ouch! That must have hurt! Tossed up, on off. Wiese hits it straight back to the bowler. He absolutely nails that one. Sodhi tries to catch but the ball bursts through his hands and hits his head. He seems to be okay. The physio comes out and the players walk towards him to check.

12:35 PM IST Just a single as this is punched to deep cover.

12:35 PM IST Shorter ball, on off. Cut away to point.

12:35 PM IST Flatter ball, on off. Blocked out.

12:35 PM IST FOUR! Was there any bat on it? Full ball, on off. David Wiese goes through with the drive and for a moment it looked like there was an edge but there was a huge gap between bat and ball. The ball runs to the third man fence and the umpire signals runs as he thought it came off the bat.

12:34 PM IST Darted on off. Green pushes it past covers for one.

12:33 PM IST Flatter and shorter, outside off. David Wiese works it past cover for one.

12:32 PM IST Shorter ball, on off. David Wiese pulls it away for one.

12:32 PM IST Flatter ball, on off. Pushed to covers.

12:32 PM IST Darted on the pads. David Wiese misses the flick but gets hit on the pads. The appeal for LBW is turned down. Maybe, sliding down leg.

12:31 PM IST Flatter and quicker, on off. David Wiese gets his bat down in time to block it out.

12:32 PM IST DRINKS! Namibia started really well, but could not capitalize on the good start. Namibia lost three wickets in quick succession and the Kiwis are right back into the game. Namibia would hope that Green and his partner take the game deep. While, New Zealand will look to keep chipping wickets and take the game away from Namibia. Also, David Wiese joins Green in the middle.

12:28 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Flatter ball, around off. Gerhard Erasmus looks to push it away. All he gets is the outside edge. Devon Conway takes a good low catch and Namibia slide further in this chase.

12:27 PM IST Darted on the pads. Worked past mid-wicket for one.

12:26 PM IST A good over by Mitchell Santner. The Kiwis are right back in the game. Full and outside off. Green slashes it through covers for a single.

12:25 PM IST Tossed up, on off, Green taps it back to the bowler.

12:25 PM IST Another single now! Full, around middle. Erasmus works it to long on off the inner half. A single is taken.

12:24 PM IST Flatter and short, around off. Green punches it to point for a single.

12:25 PM IST On off, Green defends it out.

12:24 PM IST Who will walk out next? Zane Green it is.

12:22 PM IST OUT! BOWLED! Mitchell Santner strikes this time and Namibia lose their second wicket! Flatter ball, around middle, turning away a bit after landing. Stephan Baard looks to work it across the line but he misses and the ball crashes onto his stumps.

12:21 PM IST Full and on the pads. Baard clips it through square leg for a single.

12:20 PM IST Back of a length, around off. Gerhard Erasmus guides it to short third man for a single.

12:20 PM IST Good length, on off. Baard works it to mid-wicket for a single.

12:19 PM IST A length ball, on the pads. Gerhard Erasmus flicks it to square leg for a single.

12:19 PM IST Gerhard Erasmus is the new man in.

12:17 PM IST OUT! TIMBER! James Neesham comes into the attack and finds the breakthrough. He continues his good work in this game. Helped with the blade earlier on and now he shines with the ball. A length ball, around middle. Michael Van Lingen stays inside the crease and looks to heave it across the line but misses. The ball did not bounce much off the deck. The ball goes through to castle the stumps. A brilliant decision by Williamson to get Neesham into the attack. Also James Neesham gets his 150th wicket in T20 cricket.

12:17 PM IST Touch short, outside off, Michael Van Lingen hangs back and cuts it through point for a couple.

12:17 PM IST James Neesham is into the attack now.

12:15 PM IST LEG BYE! Darted, on the pads. Michael Van Lingen misses his flick. The ball goes towards short fine leg off the pads. They collect a leg bye.

12:15 PM IST FOUR! Michael Van Lingen gets lucky this time. Full, around middle and leg. It was quicker. Michael Van Lingen gets behind the line and looks to push it away. The ball goes towards fine leg off the inside edge and finds the boundary.

12:14 PM IST On off, blocked out by Michael Van Lingen.

12:14 PM IST Good running! Full and on middle. Baard steps across and sweeps it towards fine leg. Daryl Mitchell puts in a dive in the deep to keep the ball in play. The batters pick three comfortably.

12:13 PM IST Full and on off. Michael Van Lingen punches it to long off for a single.

12:13 PM IST Flighted, full and down leg. Michael Van Lingen looks to sweep it away but misses. The ball though flicks the pads on it's way.

12:13 PM IST Mitchell Santner comes to bowl now.

12:12 PM IST A great over for Namibia. 12 runs coming off it. Back of a length, around middle, Michael Van Lingen pulls it to deep square leg for a single. At the end of Powerplay, Namibia are at 36/0.

12:10 PM IST SIX! Michael Van Lingen is not going to sit back. They are taking the game to the Kiwis here. Fuller and on off. Michael Van Lingen gets under it and muscles it over the long on fence for a maximum.

12:10 PM IST Slower ball, on a length, around off. Michael Van Lingen taps it to cover.

12:09 PM IST FOUR! Lovely, this shot was all about timing! A length ball, outside off, Michael Van Lingen hangs back and lifts it towards long off for a boundary.

12:09 PM IST LEG BYE! Fuller, around middle and leg. Baard looks to tuck it away, but misses. The ball takes the pads and rolls to the off side. The batters collect a leg bye.

12:08 PM IST On a length, around off. Baard defends it out watchfully.

12:08 PM IST Change. Adam Milne is back. He went for 4 in his first over.

12:07 PM IST A single now! Length and on off. Baard comes forward and tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

12:06 PM IST Sharp bouncer, on middle and off. Baard gets low and leaves it alone.

12:06 PM IST FOUR! Nicely played. It is a treat to watch Baard batting here. A length ball, on off. Baard heaves it across the line. The ball goes through to the fence at deep mid-wicket.

12:05 PM IST Back of a length, on the bodyline. Michael Van Lingen gloves it to square leg for a single.

12:05 PM IST Good-length ball, around off. Michael Van Lingen taps it to cover-point and looks for a run but is sent back by Baard. Had Daryl Mitchell scored a direct hit at the striker's end, Michael Van Lingen was a goner!

12:04 PM IST Full ball, outside off. Stephan Baard creams his drive towards mid off. Kane Williamson there dives and stops the ball. A single taken.

12:03 PM IST Good-length ball, outside off. Michael Van Lingen punches it to cover. Another good over for New Zealand as only 2 runs came off it!

12:02 PM IST Beaten! Length ball, outside off. Michael Van Lingen looks for the expansive drive but he misses as the ball whistles past his outside edge.

12:02 PM IST Short of a length, around off. Michael Van Lingen looks to pull but it takes the inside edge and goes to the right of Devon Conway behind the sticks.

12:01 PM IST Southee bangs it into the deck, around middle. Stephan Baard pulls it behind square on the leg side for a single.

12:00 PM IST Swing and a miss! Back of a length, around middle and leg. Stephan Baard slashes hard but fails to get any bat on it.

12:00 PM IST Length ball, outside off. Michael Van Lingen drives it to wide of mid off for one.

12:00 PM IST Change. Tim Southee is back on.

11:59 AM IST Back of a length, just outside off. Stephan Baard stays back and pushes it back to the bowler. A tidy over from Adam Milne as just 4 runs came off it!

11:58 AM IST Short ball, outside off. Michael Van Lingen pulls it along the ground to wide of the deep square leg fielder. A single taken!

11:58 AM IST Good-length ball, around off. Michael Van Lingen stays back and guides it to backward point.

11:57 AM IST Short of a length, on off. Michael Van Lingen hangs back and block it out.

11:56 AM IST Back of a length, around off. Stephan Baard blocks it off the back foot towards backward point and scampers through for a run.

11:55 AM IST Good-length ball, on off. Stephan Baard prods and drives it on the up back past the bowler for a couple of runs.

11:55 AM IST Adam Milne comes on now.

11:54 AM IST Back of a length, around off. Michael Van Lingen looks to pull but he misses and gets hit high on his body.

11:54 AM IST Length ball, around leg. Michael Van Lingen tucks it to the leg side. Adam Milne runs to his right from fine leg, dives and stops the ball. He throws it to the fielder running in from deep mid-wicket. Two taken.

11:53 AM IST Short of a length, outside off. Stephan Baard swivels and miscues his pull towards deep mid-wicket. The batters cross for a run.

11:52 AM IST Boult bangs it into the deck, around middle and leg. Stephan Baard ducks underneath.

11:52 AM IST Back of a length, around off. Stephan Baard blocks it off the back foot.

11:51 AM IST Trent Boult is set to steam in.

11:51 AM IST Wide! Full and way outside off. Stephan Baard reaches out and looks to cut but he misses. Wided!

11:51 AM IST Good-length ball, on the pads. Michael Van Lingen tucks it to the leg side for one.

11:50 AM IST FOUR! Streaky but Stephan Baard will take that! Good-length ball, shaping away from off. Baard looks to play it across the line, the ball takes the outside edge and flies past the keeper for a boundary.

11:49 AM IST A loud shout for LBW but the umpire is not interested! Length ball, angling in from leg. Stephan Baard misses his flick and gets hit on the pad.

11:48 AM IST Length ball, around off. Michael Van Lingen prods and drives it to wide of Kane Williamson at mid off for a single.

11:48 AM IST Short ball, way outside off. Michael Van Lingen looks to cut but the ball goes over his blade.

11:47 AM IST Stephan Baard and Namibia are underway! Length ball, on middle. Baard pushes it to mid on and takes a run.

11:46 AM IST Good-length ball, around off. Stephan Baard blocks it off the back foot.