5th T20I, Windhoek, October 30, 2023, 06:30 PM
Namibia
101/10(18.4ov)
Zimbabwe
93/10(19.2ov)
Namibia beat Zimbabwe by 8 runs
Right then that's it from the 5th and final T20I of the Castle Lite 5 T20I Series, 2023 with Namibia clinching it by 3-2. All you need to do is switch tabs for another World Cup classic as Afghanistan is edging closer to a victory against Sri Lanka with the run-chase. Until next time, take care and have a great time ahead.
Sikandar Raza is the player of the series.
JJ Smit is the player of the match for his brilliant all-around performance of 29 runs and 3 wickets.
Earlier in the day, after being asked to bat first. Namibia didn't perform well as the team was bundled out in the 19th over on a dismal score of 101. The batters let the side down with just JJ Smit showing up some fight with the bat scoring 29 runs while others were left with no answer to a high-quality bowling on display from the visitors. Sikandar Raza was the standout for Zimbabwe as he scalped 4 wickets giving away just 24 in his quota of 4 overs. He was well complemented by others around with Tendai Chatara picking up 3, Richard Ngarava scalping a couple and Ryan Burl taking a wicket too.
Bowling from Namibia was spot on as they made a game out of nothing by breaking the backbone of the run-chase with wickets early on. Bernard Scholtz and JJ Smit were lethal with the ball as they scalped 3 wickets each. They were well helped by their teammates as everybody else chipped in with a wicket each.
Chasing down a low total Zimbabwe started poorly as they lost 4 wickets in the powerplay scoring just 16 runs. Innocent Kaia, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, and Wesley Madhevere could only score a combined total of 7 runs and this put the home side in front even in this low-scoring affair. It was then the broad shoulders of Ryan Burl and Clive Madande that took the responsibility and put some runs on the board together as they both managed to score 19 and 16 respectively. Luke Jongwe played a sensational cameo of 24 runs keeping his side in the game but it was not enough for his side to get over the line as Namibia inflicted an all-out on Zimbabwe with 4 deliveries still left in the chase.
What a finale this has turned out to be with Namibia emerging victorious in a low-scoring thriller as a solid bowling performance in the final T20I results in Namibia winning the game by 8 runs and clinching the 5-match T20I series by 3-2.
In over# 20
0W
0
Jan Frylinck 31/1(3.2)
19.2
W
OUT! That is a simple catch to the fielder.
19.1
.
No run. Swing and a miss! The batter swings hard at that one but does not connect.
In over# 19
0W
1W
1
1
4
1
JJ Smit 14/3(4)
18.6
W
OUT! Dragged on! The batter has played that onto the stumps.
18.5
W
OUT! The fielder takes the bails off and appeals for the run out. The umpire raises the finger.
18.4
1
1 run, that is flicked away through mid wicket for a single.
18.3
1
1 run, that is punched off the front foot for a single.
18.2
4
Four! That is a great shot. Short in length, the batter cuts it through point and finds the boundary.
18.1
1
1 run, that is punched off the back foot for a single.
In over# 18
2
1
0W
1
1
1
Tangeni Lungameni 23/1(4)
17.6
2
2 runs, this one has been flicked off the back foot for two runs.