Namibia Scripts History with Stunning Last-Ball Victory Over South Africa
In a monumental upset that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, Namibia clinched a historic four-wicket victory over Full Member nation South Africa in a T20 International thriller on Saturday. Playing their first-ever international match on home soil at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek, the Namibian side held their nerve to chase down the target on the final ball, etching a new chapter in their nation’s sporting history.
The foundation for this remarkable win was laid by Namibia’s disciplined bowling attack. After being put into bat, the powerful South African lineup was restricted to a modest total of 134 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Apart from a fighting 31 from Jason Smith, the Proteas’ top order crumbled, with stars like Quinton de Kock (1), Reeza Hendricks (7), and captain Donovan Ferreira (4) failing to make an impact. The chief architect of South Africa’s collapse was Ruben Trumpelmann, who was later named Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling performance that yielded three crucial wickets.
Namibia’s chase of 135 was anything but straightforward. The home side found themselves in deep trouble as they lost their top order cheaply, including openers Loren Steenkamp (13) and Jan Frylinck (13). With captain Gerhard Erasmus contributing 21, the team slumped to 84 for five, and the dream of a historic win seemed to be fading.
However, wicketkeeper Zane Green emerged as the hero of the hour. He anchored the innings with a calm and composed unbeaten knock of 30 from just 23 balls. The match went down to the wire, with Namibia needing 11 runs from the final over, bowled by Andile Simelane.
The drama unfolded spectacularly. Green smashed the first ball for a six, immediately putting the pressure back on South Africa. After a series of singles and a double, the equation came down to one run needed off the final delivery. With the home crowd on the edge of their seats, Green dispatched the ball for a boundary over mid-wicket, triggering jubilant celebrations.
This victory marks Namibia’s fourth T20I win against a Full Member nation, having previously defeated Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka. For South Africa, it is a bitter pill to swallow, marking the second time they have lost a T20I to an Associate nation, the first being their defeat to the Netherlands in the 2022 T20 World Cup. It is also the second time the Proteas have lost a T20I on the very last ball of the match, the previous instance being against Australia in 2016.