Defending champions India made it two wins from two at the T20 World Cup as they eased past Namibia by 93 runs in New Delhi.
The host nation stormed out to a massive 209-9 in their innings – Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan leading the scoring with 52 and 61 respectively – proving too much for Namibia, who were all out for 116 despite being 86-2 at one stage.
India are top of Group A, in prime position to qualify for the Super 8 stage and next face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday – after their opponents’ proposed boycott was called off – in the highest-profile match of the tournament so far.
India are the defending T20 World Cup champions and are looking to retain their crown on home soil
Opener Kishan hit 61 runs off 24 deliveries and provided a brisk start for India, who scored 86-1 in the power play – this tournament’s highest so far – to lay down the platform for a big score after Namibia opted to bowl first.
Spinner Gerhard Erasmus took a career-best 4-20 in four overs, pegging India back to 124-4 in 11.5 overs, but Pandya hit back with an 81-run partnership alongside Shivam Dube (23).
Pandya hit four sixes and four fours, and his half-ton put his side in firm control with Namibia needing a run rate of 10.45 to match India’s score.
Varun Chakravarthy celebrates with Ishan Kishan after claiming the wicket of Namibia’s Nicol Loftie-Eaton
The African nation started well – 67-1 after seven overs – but their innings fell apart after Varun Chakravarthy’s spell, with the spinner taking 3-7 in his two overs, including Namibia top-scorer Louren Steenkamp (29) in the eighth over.
Pandya also excelled with the ball, chipping in with 2-21 from his four-over spell and ending the game when Ben Shikongo was out lbw to secure India’s win with just under two overs to spare.