Who would have thought a no.16 ranked Namibia will go on to upset the T20 World Cup 2024 finalists South Africa. But it did happen on October 11, as Namibia eked out a historic four-wicket win over South Africa in their only T20I at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Namibia rock South Africa
Chasing a tricky target of 135 runs, the hosts held their nerve in a thrilling finish, securing a famous win on the very last delivery in front of a jubilant home crowd.
Erasmus leads the way for Namibia
It was an unforgettable afternoon for Namibian cricket, spearheaded by skipper Gerhard Erasmus, who led from the front with both bat and ball. The all-round pace attack, spearheaded by Ruben Trumpelmann, played a critical role in dismantling the South African lineup. After electing to bat first, the Proteas struggled to find any momentum on what proved to be a sluggish pitch, ultimately managing to post only 134 for 8 in their 20 overs.
The Namibian bowling attack was exceptional, starting with Ruben Trumpelmann who was outstanding with the new ball, finishing with figures of 3 for 28. He dismissed key South African batters including Reeza Hendricks and Rubin Hermann. Young seamer Max Heingo also made a sensational impact, claiming 2 for 32, which notably included the prized wicket of South African captain Donovan Ferreira. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus himself chipped in perfectly with his off-spin, sending back the dangerous Quinton de Kock for just one and maintaining crucial pressure through the middle overs. Among the struggling South African batters, only J Smith (31 off 30) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (22 off 22) offered any brief resistance, but Namibia's disciplined attack ultimately prevailed, restricting the Proteas to a modest total.
Namibia's composed chase
In response, Namibia faced early hiccups, falling to 28 for 2 as Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee delivered aggressive spells. However, captain Gerhard Erasmus played a vital knock of 21 off 21 balls, successfully steadying the innings. The chase was then expertly guided by Zane Green, whose composed unbeaten 30 off 23 balls was the anchor in the middle order. Fittingly, Ruben Trumpelmann (11* off 8) provided the finishing touches alongside Green, ensuring Namibia reached 138 for 6 on the final delivery to secure a memorable victory.
Nandre Burger was the pick of South Africa's bowlers, delivering an impressive spell that yielded 2 for 21. He was supported by Andile Simelane and Bjorn Fortuin, who also grabbed two wickets apiece. However, despite their combined efforts and the team's strong bowling performance, they couldn't prevent Namibia's dream finish. The unforgettable victory was sealed on the final delivery when Zane Green hit the ball for a decisive boundary, securing a famous and historic win. This triumph marks Namibia's first-ever T20I victory over a full-member giant like South Africa and will undoubtedly be cherished as a defining moment in the nation's cricketing history.