Kishan blitz guides India to 209-9 against Namibia

NEW DELHI, INDIA - Opener Ishan Kishan hit a 24-ball 61 to guide holders India to 209-9 against Namibia on Thursday as the hosts warmed-up for their blockbuster clash with Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.

Invited to bat first, India were off to a flying start courtesy of Sanju Samson's eight-ball 22 and a flurry of sixes from the left-handed Kishan in New Delhi.

Hardik Pandya made 52 off 28 balls to boost the total at the back end of the innings after Namibia's bowlers hit back and Gerhard Erasmus returned figures of 4-20.

Earlier Samson fell after his promising start but Kishan looked in the zone as he smacked left-arm pace bowler JJ Smit for four sixes and a four to raise his fifty off 20 balls.

India raced to 100 in the seventh over before off-spinner Erasmus cut short Kishan's knock on his first ball as the batter mistimed a hit to deep mid-wicket.

Namibia checked India's surge through their spinners as Bernard Scholtz had skipper Suryakumar Yadav stumped for 12 with his left-arm orthodox bowling and Erasmus struck for a second time to dismiss Tilak Varma, for 25, in the next over.

Pandya and Shivam Dube, who made 23, then rebuild the innings and took the attack to the opposition in their stand of 81 for the fifth wicket.

Pandya fell to Erasmus with substitute fielder Dylan Leicher taking a stunning grab in the deep as he caught the ball on the run, went behind the ropes and flipped the ball inside the playing area before completing the catch.

India lost a cluster of wickets in the final few overs as cricket minnows Namibia made an impression.

India, who won their opener against the United States in Group A, next face Pakistan on Sunday in Colombo with the match being the most hotly-anticipated in the 20-team tournament.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan government ended a week-long stand-off by reversing its order for the cricket team to boycott the big game due to political tensions.