Papua Guinea (PNG) and Ireland qualified for the next year’s ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. It is a record for PNG to make it to its first-ever T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Ireland is on the cusp of the clinching its place as well.
For now, the Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland, Oman, the UAE, and Hong Kong are still hoping to make it if they finish in the top-four in the play-offs. The Netherlands, Namibia, and Scotland finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in Group A while Oman, the UAE, and Hong Kong topped Group B.
PNG defeated Kenya by 45 runs in the T20 World Cup qualifiers on Sunday and with the Netherlands’ failing to achieve the 130-run target in 12.3 overs against Scotland, PNG clinched a place in the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.
At one point today PNG were 19/6 against Kenya, with their hopes of qualifying automatically for the #T20WorldCup rapidly fading before their eyes.
An inspired comeback and a nervous wait later and they're going to Australia.
Welcome to 'The Big Dance', @Cricket_PNG. pic.twitter.com/AuIhfli6rg
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 27, 2019
Netherlands would have topped Group A and qualified if they had chased down the total set by Scotland. In the group stage, PNG and Netherlands played six matches each, with both registering five wins.
This is how Group A finishes.
PNG are going to Australia, while Netherlands, Namibia and Scotland all qualify for the play-offs.
Four of the six teams in the play-offs will qualify for the #T20WorldCup. pic.twitter.com/3Wtca55G1h
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 27, 2019
As per the latest news, Ireland defeated Nigeria by eight wickets on Saturday. If Jersey had been defeated by Oman in their encounter of Group B, Oman would have qualified for the 2020 T20 World Cup by topping the group. Ireland topped Group B with their win in the last group stage game against Jersey. Four wins each were registered by Ireland and Oman, and on the basis of the better net run-rate, the Irishmen go ahead.
