Namibia need a win over table-topping USA to keep their World Cup Qualifier hopes alive

Namibia arrive at Grand Prairie two points adrift of the fourth and last Cricket World Cup Qualifier place, with only three League 2 matches left in which to find them

The United States and Namibia meet at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas on Wednesday in the third match of their one-day tri-series, and the two sides come to it from opposite ends of the same table.

The United States lead ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 on 45 points from 33 matches and have already secured their place at next year's World Cup Qualifier. Namibia are fifth on 29 points from the same number of games, outside the four qualifying positions with their campaign almost spent.

It is the first meeting between them in a series that also involves the United Arab Emirates and runs at the Dallas-area ground until 13 October.

Milind's record chase

The hosts beat the UAE by six wickets on Monday in the largest run chase in their history. Milind Kumar finished unbeaten on 116 from 84 balls, with five sixes, as the United States overhauled 330 for 8 with seven deliveries to spare.

He and Shubham Ranjane, who was 57 not out, put on an unbroken 160 to finish it off. The previous American best was 294 for 7 against Nepal, also in Dallas, in 2024.

The five sixes took Milind to 38 in men's one-day internationals, past Monank Patel's 34 and more than any other United States batter has struck. It was his fifth ODI century, and it is the form Namibia must find a way around.

Namibia's arithmetic

Namibia's position is easier to state than to repair. Thirteen wins and three no-results from 33 matches leave them on 29 points, and with three games in hand they cannot finish above 35.

Oman hold fourth place on 31 points with eight matches still to play, so three wins would carry them beyond anything Namibia can now reach. Scotland, level with the United States on 45, and the Netherlands on 38 are clear of both.

The series has not begun well for Namibia either. Their opening match against the UAE on Saturday was washed out without a result, which left them a point rather than the two they came for.

A co-host without a guarantee

Namibia will stage matches at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup that South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia host in October and November 2027. Hosting it does not bring a place in it.

South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified automatically as full members, alongside the eight highest-ranked teams in the ICC men's ODI rankings on 30 September. Namibia, an associate member, must come through the pathway like everyone else.

That pathway runs through the 2027 World Cup Qualifier in South Africa and Namibia in February and March, where ten teams will play for the four remaining World Cup places. The top four in League 2 go straight there; the sides below them drop into a play-off tournament, and only its top four go through.

What the tri-series has left

For the United States the stakes are narrower but not nothing. One more win from their remaining fixtures would make certain of first place in League 2, a position they took with Monday's chase.

Namibia play the UAE on Friday before meeting the United States again on 13 October, the last match of the series and the last of their League 2 campaign. The UAE, bottom of the table on 19 points, face the hosts on 11 October.

Who is here

Namibia have brought a familiar group to Texas, among them Gerhard Erasmus, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann and Bernard Scholtz.

The United States squad is built around Milind Kumar, Monank Patel, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shehan Jayasuriya, Harmeet Singh and the left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar.

Namibia have three matches left to climb into the top four, and the first of them is against the side sitting on top of it.

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