The one-off T20I between Namibia and South Africa at Windhoek’s freshly constructed Namibia Cricket Ground ended with the hosts winning by four wickets with no balls remaining. The last-ball thriller meant Namibia memorably won the first T20I between the two countries, as well as the first game at the site, marking a truly momentous event in Namibian cricket.
Ruben Trumpelmann was responsible for both of South Africa’s wickets, which came in the first six overs as the Donavon Ferreira-led side batted first. Quinton de Kock was caught at square leg off a Gerhard Erasmus delivery, and Trumpelmann dismissed Reeza Hendricks in his first over (7 off 9). The Proteas could only manage 33 at the end of the powerplay period.
Trumpelmann claimed another wicket, this time in his second over. The tourists were five down when Max Heingo bowled a double-wicket over in the eleventh over of the innings. From overs 12 to 18, only one boundary was scored. On his 31st birthday, Jason Smith led the South African team in scoring with 31 runs.
A thrilling chase
The two Namibia openers were back in the shed by the end of four overs.
A 12-run sixth over meant Namibia had had a better powerplay than their opponents. With 67 scored inside the first-half of the innings, 68 were required off the final 10 overs. Skipper Erasmus departed for a run-a-ball 21 on the fourth ball, but the hope was not all lost here.
The first six of the Namibian innings came off the bat of Malan Kruger on the fourth ball of the 16th over. He was dismissed in the subsequent over. 32 runs were required off the final three overs. A 12-run penultimate over brought down the equation to 11 off six balls. Zane Green kept his cool and led from the front with an unbeaten 30-run knock off 23 balls.
India
