Zimbabwe survive Namibia scare to seal thrilling win

Zimbabwe survive Namibia scare to seal thrilling win

Zimbabwe edged out Namibia by five runs in Windhoek, posting 195/6 after a dramatic recovery from 101/6. The chase saw Namibia mount a 109‑run seventh‑wicket stand, but fell short, finishing on 190.

Zimbabwe innings

• Opening stand: Ben Curran & Brian Bennett – 64 runs.
• Key wickets:
  • JJ Smit caused a top‑edge from Bennett (32 off 21).
  • Gerhard Erasmus removed Sikandar Raza for a golden duck.
  • Erasmus also dismissed Wesley Madhavere, leaving Zimbabwe 79/5.
• Turning point: Ryan Burl and Brad Evans added 94 runs for the eighth wicket (Burl 57*).
• Final over: Burl hit a six and three fours, taking 20 runs to finish at 195/6.

Namibia chase

• Early wickets: Louren Steenkamp (c Muzarabani), Gerhard Erasmus (12), Jan Nicol Loftie‑Eaton (20).
• At 66/4, the chase looked bleak.
• Recovery: Zane Green (54 off 26) and Alexander Volschenk (56 off 29) forged a 109‑run partnership off 49 balls.
• Final over: Brad Evans bowled; a no‑ball (2 runs) followed by two more runs, Green run‑out, Volschenk caught.
• Bernard Scholtz run out, Jack Brassell bowled for a duck. Namibia fell short by five runs.

Brief scorecard

• Zimbabwe 195/6 (Ryan Burl 57*; Gerhard Erasmus 3‑46)
• Namibia 190 (Alexander Volschenk 56, Zane Green 54; Brad Evans 3‑41)

Zimbabwe held their nerve in the death overs to clinch a thrilling victory.