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The Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek, witnessed a last-ball thriller on August 31. Zimbabwe lost six wickets for 101 and went on to post 195/6. In the run chase, Namibia lost six wickets for 76. Then, Zane Green and Alexander Volschenk scored fifties to stage a comeback. The record for highest seventh-wicket partnership in T20Is was broken twice. Then, Brad Evans bagged bowled a four-wicket last over featuring two run outs as Namibia were bowled out for 190 and lost by five runs.
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Zimbabwe’s batting collapse after powerplay overs
Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus won the toss and opted to bowl first. Brian Bennett and Ben Curran got Zimbabwe off to a good start, scoring 64 runs in powerplay overs. The partnership was broken by JJ Smit with Bennett's wicket. He scored 32 runs from 21 balls. Then Bernard Scholtz knocked over Dion Myers and Earsmus got Sikandar Raza out for a golden duck. Max Heingo dismissed Curran who scored 38 runs from 22 balls. Earsmus struck again, dismissing Wesley Madhavere. Zimbabwe lost half the side for 79 runs in 9.4 overs.
Burl-Evans break Sams-Stoinis’ partnership record
Tadiwanashe Marumani looked to deal in boundaries but Erasmus ended his stay at the crease as well. Zimbabwe were 101/6 after 12 overs. Ryan Burl and Evans did not let another wicket fall in the rest of the innings. Burl and Evans accelerated in the slog overs. In the final over, Burl spoiled Erasmus' bowling figures with a six and three consecutive fours. He reached his half-century from just 29 balls. Burl scored 57 runs from 32 balls whereas Evans contributed with a 25-ball 37.
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Burl and Evans broke the record for highest seventh-wicket partnership in T20Is. Australia's Daniel Sams and Marcus Stoinis had shared a 92-run partnership against New Zealand in 2021. Evans and Burl shared an unbeaten 94-run stand against Namibia.
Namibia suffer collapse too
In the run chase, Namibia openers got early reprieves as their catches were dropped. But, Louren Steenkamp couldn't make the most of it as he fell to Blessing Muzarabani. Then, Evans got the wicket of Erasmus. After powerplay overs, Namibia were 34/2 with Jan Frylinck struggling to score. In the 10th over, Bennett struck twice to dismiss Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Smith. Then, Wellington Masakadza ended Fylinck's stay at the crease. The opener scored 22 runs from 29 balls. Namibia lost half the side for 68. In the next over, skipper Raza got Ruben Trumpelmann out. Namibia lost six wickets for 76 runs.
Volschenk kept the run chase alive, hitting Masakadza for two sixes. Zane Green accelerated as well, finding boundaries. In the penultimate over, Green hit Muzarabani for a six and two fours to reach his second T20I fifty from 25 balls.
The dramatic final over
Namibia needed 16 runs in the final over. Volschenk completed his half-century with a couple of runs on the free-hit delivery. On the next ball, Green was run out trying to take a second run but Raza's direct hit caught him short of the crease. Volschenk followed it up with a boundary. But Evans held his nerves and Marumani took a blinder. Volschenk scored 56 runs from 29 balls. Six runs were needed from final three balls. Then Scholtz was run out whereas Jack Brassell was bowled by Evans. The Zimbabwe pace-bowling all-rounder snatched victory from Namibia.
Partnership record broken again
Green and Volschenk shared an 110-run partnership for the seventh wicket. This is the highest seventh-wicket in T20Is but second-highest overall (including franchise wicket).
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