Table of Contents
The Namibia National Cricket Team vs United States National Cricket Team Timeline reflects the growing rivalry between two ambitious associate cricket nations. Their meetings have taken place across ICC World Cricket League and Cricket World Cup League 2 competitions, World Cup qualification events, T20I cricket, and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The rivalry has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Namibia enjoyed several important victories in the early stages of their meetings, while the United States has made significant gains and produced a strong run of results in more recent encounters. The 2026 T20 World Cup meeting in Chennai was another major chapter, with the USA defeating Namibia by 31 runs after posting 199/4 and restricting Namibia to 168/6.
This timeline explores the major matches, turning points, tournament encounters, notable performances, and the development of the Namibia-USA cricket rivalry over the years.
First Official Match
The modern international rivalry between Namibia and the United States is strongly associated with ICC-sanctioned limited-overs competition. One of their early major meetings came during the ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament in April 2019.
On April 21, 2019, the United States defeated Namibia by just two runs at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The USA scored 250/7 before Namibia were dismissed for 248 in 49.4 overs. Ali Khan was named Player of the Match.
That result immediately demonstrated how closely matched the sides could be. Namibia came extremely close to completing the chase, but the USA held its nerve in the closing stages.
Timeline of Major Matches
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 21, 2019 | ICC World Cricket League Division Two | Windhoek | USA won by 2 runs |
| September 17, 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Lauderhill | USA won by 5 wickets |
| September 20, 2019 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Lauderhill | Namibia won by 139 runs |
| November 26, 2022 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Windhoek | USA won by 71 runs |
| March 26, 2023 | ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off | Windhoek | USA won by 80 runs |
| September 16, 2024 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Windhoek | USA won by 7 wickets |
| September 22, 2024 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Windhoek | USA won by 7 wickets |
| October 1, 2024 | Namibia T20I Tri-Series | Windhoek | USA won by 13 runs |
| October 5, 2024 | Namibia T20I Tri-Series | Windhoek | USA won by 6 wickets |
| February 8, 2025 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Oman | USA won by 114 runs |
| February 14, 2025 | ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 | Oman | USA won by 70 runs |
| February 15, 2026 | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Chennai | USA won by 31 runs |
The 2019 meetings showed the contrasting nature of the rivalry. The USA won a close two-run contest in Windhoek, while Namibia responded later that year with a dominant 139-run DLS victory in Lauderhill.
The rivalry then increasingly tilted toward the United States. By 2024 and 2025, the USA had produced a series of significant wins in both ODI and T20I cricket.
Historic Test Matches
There have been no Test matches between Namibia and the United States.
Neither Namibia nor the United States has been a Test-playing nation during the period in which their men’s international rivalry has developed. Consequently, their competitive history has been built almost entirely around limited-overs cricket.
This makes their ODI and T20I meetings particularly important because those formats have provided the primary international platform for the rivalry.
Historic ODI Matches
ODI cricket has been the foundation of the Namibia-USA rivalry.
September 17, 2019
The USA defeated Namibia by five wickets in Lauderhill. Namibia were bowled out for 121, while the USA reached 122/5 in 31.2 overs.
The result was important because it gave the United States another victory over Namibia on American soil.
September 20, 2019
Namibia responded emphatically three days later. They scored 287/8 from 49 overs and then dismissed the USA for 142. Rain reduced the match, but Namibia still won by 139 runs under the DLS method. JP Kotze was Player of the Match.
Zhivago Groenewald was one of the standout performers with five wickets.
March 26, 2023
The teams met in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off at Windhoek. The USA scored 231/9 and then dismissed Namibia for 151, winning by 80 runs.
The victory was another significant step in the USA’s development in 50-over cricket.
September 2024
The 2024 League 2 meetings produced two more important USA victories. On September 16, the USA chased down Namibia’s 199/9 with 200/4, winning by seven wickets.
Six days later, the USA again chased successfully, reaching 287/3 after Namibia had made 286/9. Saiteja Mukkamalla scored 79 and Milind Kumar made 74 as the USA won by seven wickets.
February 2025
The USA strengthened its recent dominance with two major League 2 victories in Oman.
On February 8, the USA defeated Namibia by 114 runs after scoring 293/8 and dismissing Namibia for 179.
On February 14, the USA won again, this time by 70 runs after making 268/9 and bowling Namibia out for 198.
Historic T20I Matches
The T20I rivalry became especially prominent during the Namibia T20I Tri-Series in 2024.
October 1, 2024
The USA scored 181/4 in 20 overs and Namibia replied with 168/8. The USA won by 13 runs.
The result showed the USA’s growing ability to defend competitive totals against Namibia.
October 5, 2024
The teams met again in Windhoek. Namibia made 120/9 from their 20 overs, but the USA chased the target comfortably, reaching 124/4 in 15.1 overs to win by six wickets.
The two victories gave the USA a clean sweep in their T20I meetings during that tri-series.
February 15, 2026
Their most significant T20I meeting to date came at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Chennai.
The USA posted 199/4 from 20 overs. Monank Patel scored 52 from 30 balls, while Sanjay Krishnamurthi produced an outstanding unbeaten 68 from only 33 balls. Namibia reached 168/6, with Louren Steenkamp scoring 58 from 39 balls, but the USA won by 31 runs. Krishnamurthi was named Player of the Match.
The result was particularly important because it came in a global tournament rather than a bilateral or qualification series.
ICC Tournament Meetings
Namibia and the USA have frequently encountered each other in ICC competitions, especially qualification events.
| Year | ICC Competition | Format | Outcome |
| 2019 | World Cricket League Division Two | 50-over | USA won |
| 2019 | Cricket World Cup League 2 | ODI | USA won |
| 2019 | Cricket World Cup League 2 | ODI | Namibia won |
| 2022 | Cricket World Cup League 2 | ODI | USA won |
| 2023 | Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off | ODI | USA won |
| 2024 | Cricket World Cup League 2 | ODI | USA won |
| 2024 | Cricket World Cup League 2 | ODI | USA won |
| 2025 | Cricket World Cup League 2 | ODI | USA won |
| 2025 | Cricket World Cup League 2 | ODI | USA won |
| 2026 | Men’s T20 World Cup | T20I | USA won |
The 2026 T20 World Cup meeting represented a major milestone because both teams were competing on cricket’s biggest T20 stage. The USA’s 31-run victory continued its strong recent record against Namibia.
Memorable Rivalry Moments
The two-run thriller in 2019: The USA’s 250/7 narrowly survived Namibia’s 248 all out. A two-run margin made it one of the closest matches between the sides.
Namibia’s 139-run response: Namibia’s huge DLS victory in September 2019 showed that the rivalry could swing dramatically from one match to the next.
The 2024 ODI chases: The USA successfully chased targets of 200 and 287 against Namibia in September 2024, demonstrating a major improvement in its batting depth.
The 2026 World Cup clash: Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s 68 not out from 33 balls helped the USA reach 199/4 before Namibia finished on 168/6.
Greatest Individual Performances
| Player | Team | Performance | Match |
| Ali Khan | USA | Player of the Match in a two-run win | 2019 |
| JP Kotze | Namibia | Player of the Match in 287/8 victory | 2019 |
| Zhivago Groenewald | Namibia | 5 wickets for 20 runs | 2019 |
| Saiteja Mukkamalla | USA | 79 from 74 balls | 2024 |
| Milind Kumar | USA | 74 from 66 balls | 2024 |
| Sanjay Krishnamurthi | USA | 68* from 33 balls | 2026 |
| Monank Patel | USA | 52 from 30 balls | 2026 |
| Louren Steenkamp | Namibia | 58 from 39 balls | 2026 |
Groenewald’s five-wicket haul was particularly memorable because it helped Namibia turn a rain-affected contest into a huge 139-run victory.
Krishnamurthi’s 2026 innings stands out in T20 cricket because his unbeaten 68 came at a strike rate above 200, including six sixes.
Record-Breaking Matches
The rivalry has produced several matches that stand out statistically.
Closest Finish
The USA’s two-run victory over Namibia in April 2019 remains one of the tightest finishes between the teams. The USA made 250/7 and Namibia fell just short on 248.
Biggest Namibia Victory
Namibia’s 139-run DLS victory in September 2019 was one of the most dominant results in the rivalry. Namibia made 287/8 before restricting the USA to 142.
Highest Successful Chase
The USA’s chase of Namibia’s 286/9 in September 2024 was one of the most impressive batting performances in their meetings. The USA reached 287/3 with 30 balls remaining.
Highest T20I Team Score in the Rivalry
The USA’s 199/4 at the 2026 T20 World Cup is a standout T20I total between the teams. Monank Patel and Sanjay Krishnamurthi both scored half-centuries as the USA established a strong platform.
Most Recent Major Meeting
The latest major meeting came at the 2026 T20 World Cup in Chennai. The USA won by 31 runs, with Krishnamurthi’s 68 not out earning him Player of the Match honors.
Final Thoughts
The Namibia National Cricket Team and United States National Cricket Team timeline reflects the rapid growth of two ambitious Associate cricket nations. Their rivalry has moved from qualification tournaments and closely fought ODI contests to major T20I stages, including the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Namibia have produced memorable victories, particularly their emphatic 2019 performance, but the recent record has increasingly favored the USA. The American side has demonstrated stronger batting depth and greater consistency in several recent ODI and T20I encounters.
With both countries continuing to invest in international cricket, future Namibia-USA matches should remain competitive and meaningful. Their rivalry is no longer simply about qualification points. It has become part of the wider story of cricket’s expansion beyond its traditional strongholds.
FAQs
1. When did Namibia and the USA first play each other?
One of their earliest major ICC-sanctioned meetings came on April 21, 2019, in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two in Windhoek. The USA won by two runs.
2. Have Namibia and the USA played Test cricket?
No. Namibia and the USA have not played a Test match against each other.
3. Which team has had the better recent record?
The USA has dominated many of the more recent meetings, including ODI victories in 2024 and 2025 and the 2026 T20 World Cup victory.
4. What was the biggest win in the Namibia-USA rivalry?
Namibia’s 139-run DLS victory over the USA in September 2019 was one of the biggest margins in their rivalry.
5. Who was Player of the Match in the 2026 T20 World Cup meeting?
USA batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi was named Player of the Match after scoring an unbeaten 68 from 33 balls in the USA’s 31-run victory.
