In a remarkable display of skill and grit, Namibia secured a famous four-wicket win against South Africa in a one-off T20 International on Saturday. The captivating match in Windhoek saw Namibia chase down 135 for victory on the final ball, etching their name in history. This stunning result echoes their previous T20 World Cup upset against the Netherlands. The heroes of the day were undoubtedly Zane Green, who remained unbeaten on 30 from 23 balls, and Ruben Trumpelmann, whose all-round performance of 3-28 and a quickfire 11 not out proved decisive. The final over was a masterclass in tension, with Namibia needing 11. Green launched a six off the first ball, and after a few tight deliveries, he sealed the historic win with another boundary.
South Africa’s innings began with early setbacks as Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks were dismissed cheaply. The pitch proved difficult to navigate, with Lhua-dre Pretorius and Rubin Hermann forming a brief 30-run partnership before Trumpelmann intervened. South Africa found themselves in a precarious position at 68 for 5 in the 11th over, struggling to find consistent scoring. Despite Jason Smith’s efforts and late contributions from Bjorn Fortuin and Gerald Coetzee, South Africa could only post 134 for 8 in 20 overs.
Namibia’s pursuit of the target commenced positively, though they lost a few early wickets. South Africa’s bowling attack faced difficulties with rhythm and execution. By the seventh over, Namibia had reached 51, despite the loss of three wickets. Captain Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit, and Jason Kruger anchored the innings, ensuring Namibia stayed in the hunt. As the pressure mounted in the closing overs, Green and Trumpelmann combined brilliantly, hitting crucial boundaries to bring Namibia home on the final ball, completing a truly memorable victory.