South Africa held their nerve in an exhilarating end to beat Namibia by 11 runs, regardless of the hosts mounting a critical problem in a chase of 228. Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ 101 off 53 and Connor Esterhuizen’s 88 off 40 had powered South Africa to 228/4, with the previous turning into the youngest T20I centurion (20 years, 161 days) amongst full-member groups. Namibia’s reply was pushed by Jan Frylinck’s 72 off 36 and Louren Steenkamp’s brisk contribution (61 off 44) on the prime.
For a lot of the second innings, Namibia appeared able to pulling off their highest profitable chase in T20Is. Frylinck and Steenkamp placed on 119 inside 11 overs, earlier than Frylinck’s dismissal gave South Africa a much-needed opening. Gerhard Erasmus stored Namibia within the hunt with 30 off 26, whereas Ruben Trumpelmann’s late 21 off 10 briefly raised hopes, however South Africa closed out the sport by limiting Namibia to 217/3. The end result additionally decided the finalists of the tri-series with South Africa set to face Zimbabwe on Sunday for the trophy.
Namibia made a flying begin within the Powerplay, with Frylinck and Steenkamp instantly making the most of something free. The opening over, bowled by Kwena Maphaka, went for ten earlier than Frylinck and Steenkamp continued to search out boundaries. Between them, they struck three sixes and eight fours within the Powerplay, powering Namibia to 67 for 0.
The assault continued because the openers stored the asking price beneath management. Frylinck and Steenkamp reached their century stand inside 11 overs, and regardless of South Africa’s makes an attempt to introduce spin and range their tempo, Namibia remained forward of the required price. Frylinck introduced up a 28-ball fifty and took his tally of 4s and 6s to six and 5 respectively earlier than getting out to Andile Simelane within the eleventh over.
Steenkamp and Erasmus stored the chase alive, with the previous attending to a 37-ball half-century. They added 48 however the partnership got here to an abrupt halt as Steenkamp retired harm. The equation was 37 wanted off the final two overs, and regardless of a six and a 4 by Ruben Trumpelmann, Namibia wanted 24 within the last over, falling 12 wanting it.
Earlier, South Africa’s innings had begun with an equally emphatic Powerplay after they have been requested to bat. Pretorius and Esterhuizen attacked from the outset, taking the rating to 45/0 after 4 overs after which 70/0 on the finish of the Powerplay. Esterhuizen was significantly harmful, placing 5 sixes contained in the Powerplay, whereas Pretorius complemented him three boundaries.
The acceleration elevated regardless of the sector spreading, with Esterhuizen smashing 24 within the eighth over off Jack Brassell, having reached a 26-ball fifty with a six off the primary ball of that over. Pretorius then launched a six off Erasmus and a most off JJ Smit, whereas Esterhuizen added to his boundaries tally (8 sixes and 6 fours) earlier than getting bowled by Jan Balt.
Pretorius carried on, shifting into the 70s with a six and a 4 off Max Heingo within the thirteenth over, and into the 80s with a most off Balt within the sixteenth. Though Dewald Brevis had a brief outing, Rubin Hermann got here up with a brisk cameo and supported Pretorius in a 41-run stand. Pretorius struck a few sixes off Erasmus within the last over to convey up his maiden T20I hundred as South Africa posted a sizeable complete, however one which Namibia got here agonisingly near overhauling in a spirited chase.
Transient scores: South Africa 228/4 in 20 overs (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 101 off 53, Connor Esterhuizen 88; Jan Balt 2-31) beat Namibia 217/3 in 20 overs (Jan Frylinck 72 off 36, Louren Steenkamp 61 off 44; Nqobani Mokoena 2-43) by 11 runs.
