Australian spinner Adam Zampa has made history by surpassing pacer Mitchell Starc to become Australia’s leading wicket-taker in ICC T20 World Cup history. Zampa achieved this milestone during a match against Namibia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, where he delivered an exceptional spell, taking 4 wickets for just 12 runs in his four overs, maintaining an economy rate of 3.00. His impressive performance played a significant role in dismantling the Namibian batting lineup, which included the crucial wicket of star all-rounder David Wiese.
With this performance, Zampa’s tally in T20 World Cups now stands at 31 wickets in 17 matches, boasting an average of 11.93 and an economy rate of 5.96. His best bowling figures are 5/19. In comparison, Mitchell Starc has 29 wickets in 22 matches, with an average of 24.72 and an economy rate of 8.43, with his best figures being 3/20. Zampa’s achievement places him ahead of Starc and highlights his importance in Australia’s T20 setup.
Zampa’s accomplishments in T20 World Cups also place him among the top bowlers globally. The leading wicket-takers in T20 World Cup history include Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan, former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, and former Sri Lankan pace legend Lasith Malinga. Additionally, Zampa became the first Australian to reach 100 wickets in T20 Internationals. His record now stands at 100 wickets in 83 matches, with an average of 21.46 and an economy rate of 7.20, and his best figures remaining 5/19.
Zampa’s consistent performances have earned him his fifth ‘Player of the Match’ award in T20 World Cups, tying him with cricketing greats like Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardene, and Shane Watson. The only player with more ‘Player of the Match’ awards in T20 World Cup history is Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, who has seven.
In the match against Namibia, Australia won the toss and opted to field first. Except for skipper Gerhard Erasmus, no Namibian batter made a significant impact, leading to their team being bowled out for a mere 72 runs in 17 overs. Zampa led the Australian bowling attack, with Josh Hazlewood and Marcus Stoinis also contributing effectively. Pat Cummins and Nathan Ellis chipped in with a wicket each.
Australia’s chase was swift and decisive, taking just 5.4 overs to reach the target. Travis Head, David Warner, and skipper Mitchell Marsh played aggressive knocks to ensure a comfortable victory. For his brilliant bowling spell, Zampa was rightfully named ‘Player of the Match.’
In the context of the tournament, Australia tops Group B with three wins from three matches, accumulating six points. Namibia, on the other hand, is placed third with one win and two losses, giving them two points. Australia’s dominant performance in the group stages underscores their strong position and potential as they advance in the tournament.
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