Maqonda Ndlovu
Namibia produced a starling batting job to beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the fourth match of the five-game Castle Light Series at United Cricket Grounds yesterday.
Zimbabwe had taken a 2-1 lead after three matches, having lost the opening game before winning the next two matches.
Namibia avoided a series defeat after Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bat first, with Zimbabwe restricting them to 153 runs for the loss of six wickets (153/6) from 20 overs.
Captain Craig Ervine scored 54 runs (not out) from 43 balls (53/43), while Tinashe Kamunhukamwe scored 32/32.
In response, Namibia scored 154/3 in 18.4 overs, with Michael van Lingen scoring 47 from 27 and Nico Davin scoring 34 runs from 25 balls.
Captain Gerhard Merwe Erasmus scored 31 runs from 28 balls.
The fourth match saw Zimbabwe elect to bat first, posting 153/6.
In the first match, Namibia beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets after the visitors had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Namibia restricted them to 121/9 in their allocated 20 overs, with middle-order batsman Sikandar Raza Butt scoring 39 runs from 35 balls and Wessly Madhevere chipping in with 22 from 24.
The rest of the team struggled to make an impact with the bat.
In response, the hosts smashed 122/3 in just 13.4 overs, with Niko Davin scoring 80 runs off 44 balls, while Jan Frylinck and J. P. Kotze contributed 11 each.
The second match saw the visitors level the five-match series as they beat the Eagles by five wickets.
Zimbabwe won the toss, elected to bowl, and restricted 198/3 in 20 overs.
Zimbabwe’s star player needed two runs from the last ball of the match to tie the match, but smashed an impressive four to lead his side to victory.
The third match at United Cricket Grounds saw the visitors easily win the match via six wickets after Namibia won the toss, elected to bat, and scored 138/6.
In response, Zimbabwe scored 144/4 in 18.4 overs, with Madhevere smashing a six to score the winning runs.
The final deciding match will see Namibia and Zimbabwe face off today at the same venue to decide the series winner.
The two teams will meet once again in mid-November for the T20 World Cup qualifiers in Windhoek. – jrnmarko@gmail.com