Namibia registered a historic four-wicket victory over South Africa in a captivating one-off T20 International match played in Windhoek. The thrilling encounter concluded on the very last ball of the 20th over, marking a significant achievement for the Namibian cricket team. This unexpected result marks South Africa’s second T20I loss to an Associate nation, mirroring their previous defeat to the Netherlands.
The chase for 135 was anchored by Zane Green’s unbeaten 30 off 23 balls and a stellar all-round performance from Ruben Trumpelmann, who took 3 wickets for 28 runs and chipped in with a rapid 11 not out. The final over became the stage for a dramatic conclusion, with Namibia needing 11 runs. Green delivered a crucial six off the first ball, and after a tense few deliveries, he sealed the historic win with a boundary off the last ball.
South Africa chose to bat first but struggled on a tricky surface, losing Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks early. Lhua-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann managed a 30-run partnership before Trumpelmann struck again. The South African innings was plagued by regular wickets, reducing them to 68 for 5 in the 11th over. While Jason Smith provided some late impetus, and contributions from Bjorn Fortuin and Gerald Coetzee helped, South Africa finished their innings at 134 for 8.
Namibia’s pursuit began steadily, though they lost three wickets by the seventh over, reaching 51 runs. South Africa’s pace attack faced inconsistencies. Captain Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit, and Jason Kruger played crucial roles in rebuilding the innings and keeping Namibia within reach of the target. As the game entered its final phase, with 28 runs needed from the last three overs, Green and Trumpelmann showcased remarkable composure, finding vital boundaries and navigating the final moments to secure a famous win off the last ball.