Spirited Namibia stun SA in tri-series opener

Namibia opened the Windhoek tri‑series with an 18‑run victory over South Africa, defending 163/9. Ten months after their famous last‑ball win against the Proteas, Jan Frylinck’s quickfire 60 and the combined bowling of Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit proved decisive, while South Africa’s Dewald Brevis struck 75 to keep the chase alive.

Namibia innings

• Opening partnership: Jan Frylinck and Louren Steenkamp put on 84 runs for the first wicket.
• Steenkamp: 41 (29 balls).
• Frylinck: 60 (38 balls), including two sixes.
• At 116/2 after 13 overs Namibia seemed on track for 180, but a sudden collapse saw them lose four wickets for 17 runs, slipping to 133/6.
• They recovered to 163/9, thanks to late contributions.

South Africa innings

• Early wobble: 19/2 inside four overs, then 39/3.
• Dewald Brevis: 75 (including a six over long‑on) rescued the innings.
• Rubin Hermann added support; together they reached 116/5 after 16 overs and 129/5 after 17.
• Brevis was dismissed in the 18th over, caught at short third man.
• Fortuin fell to an Erasmus yorker in the 19th over, leaving 28 runs needed from the last six balls.
• JJ Smit bowled a decisive over, conceding just nine runs and taking two wickets, sealing the win.

Brief scores

• Namibia 163/9 (Jan Frylinck 60; Prenelan Subrayen 3‑32)
• South Africa 145/9 (Dewald Brevis 75; Ruben Trumpelmann 3‑24, JJ Smit 3‑31)

Namibia’s disciplined bowling and a solid total sent the Windhoek crowd into celebration.