Zimbabwe tour of Namibia 2023 - Series digest
JJ Smit's all-round effort helped Namibia script a come-from-behind series win against Zimbabwe at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek. Namibia were down to 46 for 4 in the 10th over before JJ Smit revived the innings with his fighting 28-ball 29 that helped Namibia push towards the three-figure mark. Tendai Chatara and Richard Ngarava picked five wickets between them, giving away just 13 runs.
Zimbabwe were down to 12 for 4 inside the PowerPlay during the chase, including the dismissal of Sikandar Raza. Ryan Burl, Clive Madande and Luke Jongwe put the chase back on track as the equation was down to 17 needed of 12. But Smit, who already picked two wickets, returned to bowl a fine penultimate over that set up Namibia's victory. Jongwe was run out on the fifth ball and Smit then cleaned up Ngarava on the last, reducing Zimbabwe to 93 for 9 and needing 9 off the last six balls. Jan Frylinck then picked the last wicket on the second ball of the 20th over to secure an eight-wicket win for his team.
Brief Scores: Namibia 101 in 18.4 overs (JJ Smit 29; Tendai Chatara 3-7, Richard Ngarava 2-6) beat Zimbabwe 93 in 19.2 overs (Luke Jongwe 24; Bernard Scholtz 3-11, JJ Smit 3-14) by 8 runs
A brilliant allround display by skipper Gerhard Erasmus (2-21 & 31*) and opener Michael van Lingen's 27-ball 47 helped Namibia pip Zimbabwe by seven wickets to level the series and force a decider, to be played Monday.
Having opted to bat, Zimbabwe could post only 153/6 on the board, thanks to their captain Craig Ervine's unbeaten fifty. Ervine combined with Kamunhukamwe for a 43-run stand for the second wicket after the visitors lost an early wicket. However, Erasmus broke the stubborn stand in the ninth over and struck in his next as well to lend Zimbabwe another big blow with the wicket of Sikander Raza for just two. Ervine led from the front as he batted with the middle and lower order to take his side to a respectable score.
Namibia were always in control of the chase and had some fielding errors from Zimbabwe along the way to thank. Van Lingen did the bulk of scoring in the opening partnership of 82, hitting half a dozen fours and a couple of sixes in his entertaining knock. Ryan Burl denied him a half-century when he struck twice in the space of an over to trigger bit of a panic but Erasmus' captain's knock ensured Namibia stayed on track. The hosts overhauled the target with eight balls to spare.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 153/6 in 20 overs (Craig Ervine 54*, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 32; Gerhard Erasmus 2-21, Handre Klazinge 2-35) lost to Namibia 154/3 in 18.4 overs (Michael van Lingen 47, Nikolaas Davin 34, Gerhard Erasmus 31*; Ryan Burl 2-22) by 7 wickets
3rd T20I, October 27
Sikandar Raza starred again with the bat to give Zimbabwe a 2-1 lead in the series against Namibia. Having conceded an early lead, Zimbabwe staged a strong comeback in the second game after Raza blitzed an unbeaten 82. On Friday, in a tricky run chase of 139, Raza walked out to bat towards the end of the powerplay after Craig Ervine departed for 17.
He joined forces with Tinashe Kamunhukamwe to steady the ship as the two batters added 37 for the third wicket. Once Tinashe fell, Raza took charge and hammered boundaries at regular intervals to bring up another fifty. Even though he fell for 52, the job was pretty much done as Zimbabwe romped home with 8 balls left.
Earlier in the day, the Namibian top three that combined to score 165 in the second game, struggled and could muster only 24 in total. Jan Frylinck and JP Kotze stemmed the rot with a crucial half-century stand but Namibia needed a huge finish to post a competitive score. The set batters fell at the wrong time and only JJ Smit managed to chip in with a few boundaries at the death to drag his side to 138 - a total that just wasn't enough.
Brief scores: Namibia 138/6 in 20 overs (Jan Frylinck 41, JP Kotze 31; Luke Jongwe 2/33) lost to Zimbabwe 144/4 in 18.4 overs (Sikandar Raza 52, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe; Jan Frylinck 1/12) by six wickets
2nd T20I, October 25
Sikandar Raza slammed nine sixes in an unbeaten 35-ball 82 to help Zimbabwe draw level in the five-match series against Namibia. Set to chase a daunting 199 in the second T20I at Windhoek, Raza was left having to get 18 off the final over bowled by Tangeni Lungameni.
Raza missed the first ball of the over and after a wide from Lungameni, he hit two sixes towards the sight-screen before exchanging a pair of singles with batting partner Clive Madande. With three to get off the final ball, Raza guided a full ball between point and cover to fetch four and complete a sensational victory.
Earlier in the evening, Namibia, who were put into bat, got off to a flying start courtesy Michael van Lingen (67 off 37) and Niko Davin (60 off 40). The opening pair added 108 runs in just 9.3 overs before Namibia lost some momentum. Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit scored useful runs to power the total close to 200 but ultimately that score proved to not be enough.
Brief scores:Namibia 198/3 in 20 overs (Michael van Lingen 67, Niko Davin 60; Tendai Chatara 1-31) lost to Zimbabwe 200/5 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 82*; Gerhard Erasmus 2-29) by 5 wickets
1st T20I, October 24
Namibia stunned Zimbabwe in the opening T20I with a ruthless performance in Windhoek. Zimbabwe got off to a disastrous start with the bat when both their openers - Nick Welch and skipper Craig Ervine - departed for ducks to leave them reeling at 2/2. Zimbabwe never managed to recover from that setback as 2/2 soon became 22/4.
Sikandar Raza and Wessly Madhavere stemmed the rot for a brief period with a 39-run stand but once the partnership was broken, Namibia picked wickets in clusters once again. Raza top-scored with 39 but it was Luke Jongwe's 22 that helped the away side breach 100 and finish with 121/9. Gerhard Erasmus was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with figures of 3/15.
Even though Richard Ngarava struck soon for Zimbabwe, opener Nikolaas Davin's blistering start put Namibia firmly in control. Erasmus, who was pretty much a spectator in the powerplay watching the ball get carted around, fell for 8 but there was no stopping Davin. He smashed an unbeaten 80 off just 44 balls as the home side got the job done with 38 balls to spare to take an early lead in the series.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 121/9 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 39; Gerhard Erasmus 3/15) lost to Namibia 122/3 in 13.4 overs (Nikolaas Davin 80*; Richard Ngarava 2/15) by7 wickets
| Share | Tweet |