Ireland are fully aware of the threat posed by the big-hitting David Wiese going into their winner-takes-all T20 World Cup clash against Namibia on Friday.

Both Ireland and Namibia have a win and a defeat in Group A from which 2014 champions Sri Lanka have already qualified. As a result, the winner of Friday’s clash in Sharjah will progress to the Super 12 stage.

Wiese, who played for the Proteas at the 2016 World Cup, bludgeoned an unbeaten 66 as Namibia stayed alive at the tournament on Wednesday with a six-wicket triumph over the Netherlands.

“David Wiese played for South Africa in the T20 World Cup before and I’ve seen him in South Africa and on the county circuit,” said Ireland coach Graham Ford. “He can be absolutely devastating, which he was.”

Ford added: “They got some dangerous players. They’ve got some very hardworking cricketers that quite a few of them have learned quite a lot of their cricket in South Africa, as well.

“We know that they’re going to be tough. If we’re slightly off our best, we will struggle.”

Group A leaders Sri Lanka are the only side with two wins from two and they know that a win over Netherlands on Friday will see them top the table and join England, Australia, the West Indies and South Africa in Group 1 of the next round.

That leaves Ireland and Namibia to face off to qualify for the Super 12 stage as runners-up, going into Group 2 with Scotland, Afghanistan, India, New Zealand and Pakistan.

© Agence France-Presse