NAM vs SA 1st ODI Live Commentary - Windhoek (09 September 2026)

Length ball, slanting into the pads. Hermann misses the flick and the ball brushes the pads before rolling down to fine leg for a couple of leg byes.

Good length in the channel, punched away to cover.

No run, the batter shoulders arms to let that one through.

No run, that is flicked away but straight to the fielder.

Good length at the stumps, Hermann stands well outside the crease to negate the extra bounce and movement, blocking it down to mid on.

Very full and at the stumps, Hermann looks to drive it straight, but the bat handle turns in his hands, and he heaves it across through mid-wicket. The fielder from inside the ring gives chase and Hermann picks up three runs.

Short of a length, angling into the bodyline. De Zorzi hops up and manages to defend it down on the off side.

Hard length over middle, looking to angle it away. De Zorzi moves across and rides the bounce well, nudging it down towards mid-wicket.

Back of a length, attacking the ribs, de Zorzi tucks it to mid-wicket.

Back of a length again, in and around off, de Zorzi stays back and tentatively keeps it out.

WIDE! Fuller delivery, angled well down the leg side by Heingo.

No ball. Good length, slipped down the leg side again. Tony misses the tuck, and a No Ball has been called for overstepping. Free Hit to follow...

Slower ball, short around leg. Tony de Zorzi lines it up but miscues the pull aerially over square leg, picking up just a single.

Heingo comes around the wicket now, pitching it fuller around the off stump line. Hermann looks to crack a cover drive but mistimes it to the cover fielder.

Much better from Heingo. He jams in a yorker now, at the toes, Hermann digs it out to wide mid on.

WIDE! A bit of extra effort, but it's ill-directed by Heingo. Length ball, trying to attack the pads, but this is slanted well down the leg side.

FOUR! Up and over! Overpitched delivery outside off, Hermann goes after it and gets it well over mid off for a boundary.

Oh, deary me! No third-umpire replays available, and Jordan Hermann gets a life here. Max Heingo lands it fuller around off and Hermann forces it out towards extra cover. The batters set off for the single and the fielder over there moves around to his left, firing in a direct hit at the bowler's end. The on-field umpire has a tough decision to make and rules it in the batter's favour, but replays later show that Hermann was actually a few inches short of his crease. NOT OUT!

Full and around off, flicked across to mid-wicket.

Length ball on the pads, rushing the batter off the deck. Hermann flicks it down to fine leg for one.

Back of a length, hammered in around leg. Tony de Zorzi is a bit taken aback and jams it off the hips towards mid-wicket, picking up a single as well. This is given as leg byes.

A bit fuller now, straighter too. Hermann looks to drive but is slightly undone by the extra bounce, jabbing it to mid on.

Very full on off, Hermann jams the drive into the turf and the ball goes to mid off. Hermann isn't happy with himself here, letting out a frustrated grunt.

A bit of an appeal for a catch, but that's come off the pads. Bashed in on a shortish length on leg. Hermann looks to pull but gets hurried and the ball thuds into the thigh pad, lobbing up towards leg slip. The keeper moves after it and pouches it safely.

Just back of a length, over middle, Hermann manages to ride the bounce and keeps it out on the off side.

Slightly back of a length, a heavy ball from Heingo, and over middle. Tony de Zorzi stays back and blocks it to the off side.

Back of a length again, a bit of movement into the left-hander. Tony looks to work it off the back foot but plays all around it and wears it on the body.

Full and offering width outside off. This is smashed away to deep cover for just a single.

WIDE! Length ball, trying to attack the pads, but this one shapes down the leg side.

Tap and run! Good length, on middle and leg, just a clip using the wrists and Hermann gets it to the left of mid-wicket for a quick run.

Hard length, straighter in line, Tony de Zorzi blocks it down the pitch.

FOUR! Swung away by de Zorzi. Marginally short on middle, Tony leans on it a bit and swats it away through the leg side and well in front of mid-wicket for a boundary to end the over.

EDGED AND FOUR! Should have been taken! Full of a good length, angled across off. Tony de Zorzi goes for the cover drive but gets a big outside edge between the keeper and first slip. Neither of them goes for it and the ball goes through for a boundary. Brassell is troubling de Zorzi early on here.

Good length, hitting the deck hard around off. De Zorzi jams it to mid on.

A bit fuller and in the channel outside off, eased away to extra cover.

That's excellent running. Hard length on leg, zips through off the deck. De Zorzi hangs back and fends it away to the leg side, scampering through for the single.

Brilliant footwork from Jack Brassell and Tony de Zorzi just about escapes. Hard length on middle, Hermann defends it off the inside edge, and the ball hits his body before dropping down past leg stump. The batters set off for the single as Brassell boots it onto the stumps. De Zorzi is just in, though.

Back of a length, worked away off the back foot towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Starts with a flatter one, darting it in towards the stumps. Tony de Zorzi gets cramped for room and hops back to jam it out.

A tad shorter this time, on off. De Zorzi rocks back and cuts it past point for a single.

Tossed up, very full and on off, Jordan Hermann gets forward and drills it down to long off for a single.

SIX! That's a fine shot! Fuller one, drifted into the pads. Tony de Zorzi lunges and brings out the slog sweep, nailing it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Flighted delivery on off, just eased on the up and down to long on for one. De Zorzi rotates strike immediately after the boundary.

Good running, and 50 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA as well. Sliding into the pads, Hermann presses back and works it away behind square leg for a couple of runs.

Hits the deck hard, does Jack, bowling it on the hips. Hermann flicks it down to fine leg for a single.

That is a beauty! A huge appeal for caught behind as well, but the umpire turns it down. Good-length delivery on off, shapes back in late and carries through nicely. Tony de Zorzi is beaten on the inside edge and the ball might have just brushed the pad on its way to the keeper.

Pitched fuller this time, on off and middle, de Zorzi blocks it off.

Full again, around off, Tony de Zorzi hangs back before leaning forward and smothers it to cover.

Pitching outside leg! Good length around leg, Tony de Zorzi looks to step out and put the bowler off his length, but misses it completely and wears it on the pads.

A bit of ball watching from the batters, but they do manage to pinch a single. Back of a length, tight around off. De Zorzi hops up and defends it in front of point for a quick single.

Bowled by going slightly wide on the crease, on a good length, around off. Hermann does well not to push at the ball with hard hands. It goes down to deep third off an outside edge and the batters cross over.

FOUR! Edged away. Smith pitches the ball up there and gets the ball to move away. Tony de Zorzi presses forward, looking to force the drive down the ground with the full face of the bat. The ball moves away late to catch the outside edge. It goes well wide of the slip fielder. The deep third fielder dives to his right but in vain.

Angled in at the hips, on a short of a good length. Tony misses out on the glance. A perplexed look on the face of de Zorzi for wide not being called.

On the off pole, on a length, defended solidly by Tony.

Stays around the off stump, on a good length. Tony blocks it out watchfully.

Fuller now, on off. De Zorzi pushes it to mid off by getting forward. At the end of the first Powerplay, South Africa are 38/1.

Honing in on the off stump, on a good length. It straightens a bit off the deck. Tony covers the line and defends.

Missed out. Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Tony throws his hands at the ball but toe-ends it down to deep third. They cross.

Closer to the off stump and fuller as well. Hermann shoulders arms.

Hits the good length, around off. Jordan tries to play it on the up, but the ball jumps on the batter and catches the splice of the blade. The bottom hand comes off the bat handle as Hermann mistimes it to cover.

Good running! On a back of a length, on off. Jordan lets the ball come on and stands tall on top of the bounce, punching it through covers. The ball does not have enough legs to reach the fence and it is hauled in. The batters hustle back for the third run on the throw.

In and around the off stump, on a length. Tony pushes out in front but the bat turns in his hand and he mishits off the inner half to the left of the bowler.

Angled into the left-hander on a good length. Jordan works it to mid-wicket.

Seaming back in, on a back of a length, on middle. Hermann adjusts to the sharp seam movement and nudges it wide of mid-wicket before hurrying to the other end.

Pitched up, on off. Tony leans on and pushes it towards cover but can't get it through as Jan Frylinck slides sto his left to make the stop.

Outside off, inviting the drive, on a length. Tony offers no shot.

Good fielding! Not all that short but Tony gets the width to free his arms. De Zorzi plays the square drive and connects well but Malan Kruger at backward point puts in a dive to his left. He gets a good hand on it, parrying it away towards the cover fielder. Just a single.

Oh, that would have hurt. Slanting in on middle, on a back of a length. Jordan sets up for the pull on the back foot but the ball does not rise that much and sneaks under the blade to hit the batter on the midriff.

Pushed across the right-hander, not all that full. Esterhuizen just extends his hands and plays it on the rise through the gap at covers. Max Heingo gives a long chase and hauls it in. Two taken.

This is on a back of a length, on off. Connor defends it from the crease.

On middle, on a short of a length. Connor stays back and with his wrists, he nudges it between mid-wicket and mid on for a couple of runs. JJ Smit was one of the two men who went after the ball and he is feeling his back. Namibia will hope it is nothing serious.

OUT! CAUGHT! The change of angle works straight away for Ruben Trumpelmann. The tall left-arm seamer has been all over the place with his lines and lengths, but this wicket will help him feel a lot better. Switches to around the wicket and serves a bumper at the bodyline of the batter. Esterhuizen looks to get inside the line and play the hook by making use of the angle. It goes only as far as deep fine leg, where Jack Brassell does the rest. End of a 27-run opening stand.

Attacking the front pad with a good-length ball. Tony wrists it to mid-wicket.

In the channel, on a short of a length. Tony de Zorzi lets it go.

Goes past the bat! In the corridor of uncertainty, on a nagging length. It angles in before straightening off the deck. Hermann has a poke at the delivery and is lucky not to nick this one behind.

FOUR! Hit with absolute authority. A bit of a nothing ball by Smit, as this is nowhere close to being high enough to trouble the batter. It comes at waist height, around off. Hermann swivels and gets on top of the bounce to crack the pull through square leg.

On a back of a length, on off, kept out on the off side by Jordan.

A flash and a miss. Slightly fuller in length, outside off. Hermann tries to cash in on the width and goes for the big booming drive but is beaten past the outside edge.

Wide! Drifts down leg, Hermann walks inside the line for the tickle but misses.

This nips back a bit, just outside the off stump, on a length. Jordan defends with the bat close to the front pad.

Floats it up there, on off, a hint of away shape. Jordan pushes it off the front foot to mid off.

Going away in the air slightly, on a good length, on off. Hermann stays beside the line of the ball and plays it to cover-point.

This is on the shorter side, angled in on off. Jordan gets on his toes and tucks it beside the strip on the leg side.

FOUR! Not in control and Jordan Hermann gets away with it. A well-directed short ball, angled in at the left shoulder. Hermann pivots on the back foot for the pull but the ball climbs onto him as he shapes up for the pull. It catches the top edge and goes behind, well wide of the man at deep fine leg to his left.

Around off, on a back of a length. Jordan hangs back and punches it to the right of mid off before scampering through for a single.

Fuller in length, on off. Esterhuizen leans on and drives it to mid off.

Going away, on a good length. Connor taps it down on the off side.

That in-between length, on off. Connor stabs it down with the bat close to the front pad.

Angled across off, on a slightly back of a length. Esterhuizen makes the leave.

On the shorter side, on off. Esterhuizen stands tall on top of the bounce and knocks it to cover.

A bit of lift on this hard-length delivery by Smit, on off. Esterhuizen, due to his trigger, presses forward initailly but then rocks back. He adjusts to the steep bounce and glides it down to gully with an open bat face.

A hint of inward shape, on a short of a length, on off and middle. Esterhuizen plays all around it on the flick and gets rapped high on the thigh pad.

A maiden by Smit. Hits the short of a good length, on off. Esterhuizen gets on his toes and rides the bounce to drop the ball on the deck.

Moving away in the air, on a nagging length, closer to the tramline. Jordan is happy to let it go. Zane Green gathers it in front of his face.

A swing and a miss. Trumpelmann pitches it up and gets the ball to shape away. Hermann's eyes light up on seeing the width and he throws his hands at the ball but is beaten by the late swing.

Stays full, and the line continues to be a bit wide. Hermann gets closer to the line of the ball with a shuffle and firms the drive to mid off.

Closer to the off pole now and the length is dragged back. Jordan punches it to cover-point without much timing.

FOUR! First boundary in ODIs for Hermann. A bit too full by Trumpelmann, on off, not much movement through the air. Jordan presents the full face of the bat and just plays a checked drive back past the bowler. It races past the man at mid off, who is a bit wide. Max Heingo gets to the ball first from mid on before the mid off fielder. He even gets a hand on the ball but it is not enough to prevent the boundary.

Around off, on a length, that is punched off the back foot but straight to the cover fielder.

Smit begins in the channel, on a length. It nips back into the left-hander as Jordan shoulders arms to let that one through.

Delivers it on a short of a length, on off. Hermann taps it to cover off the back foot.

Into the wicket but a little too straight, around leg. Hermann swivels and pulls it behind square leg for a single to open his account in ODIs.

Pushes the length up and gets the ball to shape back in, just outside the off stump, that is left alone for the keeper to collect.

This leaves the right-hander, on a good length. Esterhuizen leaves it all alone.

Bowled on a full length, on middle and leg. Esterhuizen brings his bat out in front of the front pad and keeps it out.

Angles the first ball at the hips, does Trumpelmann. Jordan's head falls over a bit to the off side as he attempts the tickle but fails to lay any bat on the ball. The ball thuds into the thigh pad and goes towards square leg.

South Africa are underway with this extra. Too straight again at the hips, Hermann misses out on the tickle. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the thigh pad down to deep fine leg.

 Esterhuizen is off the mark in ODI cricket. Trumpelmann is yet to find his radar. This swings down leg, on the fuller side. Connor helps it to the right of deep fine leg for a couple of runs.

Drags the length back now and it is pushed across off. Esterhuizen stands tall on top of the bounce and stabs it down.

FOUR! So nearly strangled down leg. Fuller in length but it starts too straight and swings further down leg. Esterhuizen helps it away with the swing. The keeper, Zane Green flings himself to his left but can only get his fingertips to it as the ball flies away.

Drifts down leg yet again, does Rubin. Connor makes the leave and it carries nicely to Zane Green at head height.

Angled away, on the fuller side. Esterhuizen extends his hands for the drive but mishits it down the deck.