Zimbabwe survived a stunning late fightback from Namibia to pull off a thrilling five-run victory in Windhoek, recovering from a precarious 101/6 to post 195/6 before holding their nerve in a dramatic final over.Namibia, who had opened the tri-series with an impressive win over South Africa, looked out of the contest at 76/6 during their chase. But Zane Green and Alexander Volschenk produced a breathtaking 109-run seventh-wicket partnership off just 49 balls to put Namibia within touching distance of another remarkable victory.Zimbabwe eventually held on, with Brad Evans delivering the decisive final over to seal a result that looked highly unlikely midway through the chase.
Zimbabwe recover from 101/6
Asked to bat first, Zimbabwe made an aggressive start through Ben Curran and Brian Bennett, who put on 64 for the opening wicket. Namibia struck with the final ball of the Powerplay when Bennett top-edged a pull off JJ Smit to deep midwicket for 32 off 21 balls.Dion Myers fell to Bernard Scholtz in the following over, before Gerhard Erasmus produced the biggest breakthrough by dismissing Sikandar Raza for a golden duck. Curran was then removed in the ninth over, and Erasmus struck again soon after to send back Wesley Madhavere.Zimbabwe had slumped to 79/5 in the 10th over and were in danger of being bowled out cheaply. But Ryan Burl and Brad Evans turned the innings around with a crucial 94-run partnership off 48 balls.Namibia’s decision to return to spin for the final over proved particularly expensive. Burl smashed Erasmus for a six and three consecutive fours, taking 20 from the over as Zimbabwe surged to 195/6.
Namibia’s stunning fightback falls agonisingly short
Namibia’s chase began with early pressure from Zimbabwe. Louren Steenkamp was dismissed by Blessing Muzarabani in the third over, while Erasmus made 12 before falling to Brad Evans.Loftie-Eaton briefly counterattacked with 20 off 13, but Brian Bennett then struck twice in three balls to leave Namibia at 66/4. Frylinck’s 22 off 29 was unable to halt the slide, and when Ruben Trumpelmann fell to Sikandar Raza, Namibia were reeling at 76/6.Then came the extraordinary recovery.Volschenk attacked the bowling from the outset, hitting Wellington Masakadza for two sixes in the 13th over. Green joined him, and the pair combined power with sharp running to keep Namibia’s hopes alive.Their partnership raced past 100, leaving Namibia needing only 16 from the final over with four wickets still in hand.Evans began the last over with a no-ball, but Namibia could take only two runs from it. Green was then run out for 54 off 26 after being caught short at the non-striker’s end by a direct hit from Raza.Volschenk kept Namibia alive with a boundary but was dismissed for 56 off 29 when he edged a full, wide delivery, with wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani taking a superb one-handed catch.With two balls remaining, Namibia needed nine. Scholtz was run out attempting a desperate single before Evans held his nerve to bowl Jack Brassell for a duck and complete Zimbabwe’s five-run victory.
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