Zimbabwe overpower Namibia to clinch T20I series

HARARE – Brian Bennett (pictured) and Tadiwanashe Marumani produced aggressive knocks of 40 and 50 respectively to set Zimbabwe on course for a five-wicket victory over Namibia at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday – a result that sealed the three-match T20I series with a game to spare.

Chasing 170, the hosts reached their target with 11 balls in hand after a solid all-round display.

Having won the toss, Zimbabwe opted to bowl first.

Jan Frylinck gave Namibia a brisk start, striking three boundaries in quick succession before Richard Ngarava bowled him for 22 off 11 balls, leaving the visitors 27 for one after four overs.

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton then combined with Malan Kruger in a productive second-wicket stand that carried the score to 98 in the 12th over.

Sikandar Raza eventually broke the partnership, having Kruger caught for 45 off 44 balls.

Loftie-Eaton continued to dominate, but his fluent 47 from 30 deliveries was cut short when Tinotenda Maposa had him caught by Brad Evans – who had earlier taken the catch to dismiss Kruger.

Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus added late impetus with 37 off 25 before Ngarava removed him in the penultimate over.

Evans then closed out the innings superbly, claiming the wickets of JJ Smit (4) and Alexander Busing-Volschenk (2).

Namibia finished on 169 for six, with Ngarava and Evans sharing identical figures of two for 25.

Zimbabwe’s reply began steadily with five singles in the opening over before Bennett cut loose.

He struck two fours off Smit and then followed with a four and a six off Ruben Trumpelmann.

Jack Brassell was next to suffer as Bennett smashed 12 runs off four consecutive deliveries.

At 52 without loss after five overs, Zimbabwe were flying.

Marumani soon joined the assault with a six off Trumpelmann, but Bennett’s sparkling 40 off 20 balls ended in the sixth over when he was caught behind off the same bowler with the score on 59.

Marumani and Brendan Taylor kept the momentum going, taking Zimbabwe to 94 for one at the halfway mark.

Marumani reached his half-century from 36 balls before falling for exactly 50, while Raza departed soon after for three to leave Zimbabwe 124 for three.

Taylor was run out for 29, triggering a brief wobble at 128 for four in the 15th over.

But Ryan Burl and Tony Munyonga steadied the chase with a 24-run stand.

Munyonga fell for 10, edging Smit behind, to leave Zimbabwe needing 18 from the last three overs.

Any nerves were quickly eased as Burl struck consecutive boundaries off Trumpelmann in an over that yielded 12 runs.

Loftie-Eaton bowled the 19th, only for Tashinga Musekiwa to seal the series in style by launching his first delivery for six.

Burl finished unbeaten on 24 from 13 balls, while Musekiwa was on nine not out.

Smit was Namibia’s most successful bowler with two for 38. – ZimCricket Media