England beat rain and Namibia to keep hopes alive

T20 World Cup, Antigua

England 122-5 (10 overs): Brook 47* (20), Bairstow 31 (18)

Namibia 84-3 (10 overs): Van Lingen 33 (29); Archer 1-15

England won by 41 runs (DLS method)

Scorecard. Tables

England hit nan rainfall and Namibia to support their T20 World Cup defence live but are still reliant connected Australia beating Scotland to spell done to nan Super 8s.

The upwind threatened to lavation nan lucifer retired wholly - a script that would person eliminated England - but yet nan clouds cleared to let a frantic, shortened contest.

Initially fixed 11 overs to bat, England were 13-2, including skipper Jos Buttler retired for a four-ball duck, but rallied to station 122-5 successful an innings reduced to 10 overs by different shower.

Harry Brook made a important and enterprising 47 not retired from 20 balls while Jonny Bairstow deed 31 from 18.

Namibia’s target was accrued to 126 because of nan interruption and, contempt uncovering wickets difficult to travel by, England ever restricted nan scoring.

A melodramatic time took different move erstwhile Namibia opener Nikolaas Davin retired retired to bring big-hitting David Wiese to nan crease pinch 82 from 24 balls needed but moreover pinch him striking 27 from 12, Namibia vanished connected 84-3 - England winners by 41 runs.

They must now hold to spot if Australia hit Scotland successful a lucifer that starts astatine 01:30 BST connected Sunday.

If they do, barring an improbably high-scoring match, England will spell done to nan Super 8s, wherever they will play their first lucifer connected Thursday (01:30 BST).

If Scotland hit Australia for nan first clip successful their history, aliases if location is nary consequence successful St Lucia, nan Scots will return their place.

The occupation is not yet done for England but for a agelong while it looked arsenic though they would not moreover get into this position. The lucifer was 46 minutes distant from being abandoned erstwhile conditions yet allowed play to statesman astatine 16:00 section time.

English nerves jangled erstwhile played did statesman arsenic Wiese conceded only 2 from his first 10 balls connected a transportation offering plentifulness earlier left-armer Ruben Trupelmann castled Buttler and Phil Salt nicked behind.

It was Bairstow who initially collapsed nan shackles by hitting spinner Bernard Scholtz for 4 pinch a reverse sweep, and he followed up by clubbing a six.

After that Brook was superb – producing his champion World Cup sound astatine a important moment.

England resumed connected 82-3 aft 8 overs aft nan rainfall interruption and he flat-batted seamer Jack Brassell for six complete other screen and delicately scooped 2 for 4 complete good leg.

Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone some struck 2 sixes precocious connected - they made 16 from six balls and a four-ball 13 respectively - arsenic England recovered to a people good supra par.

Their bowling lacked threat but England did enough. Now each eyes move to St Lucia.