Namibia began the tri-series in Windhoek with an 18-run win over South Africa, defending 163/9, ten months after their famous last-ball win over the Proteas. Jan Frylinck’s 60 and six wickets between Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit were central to the result, while Dewald Brevis’ 75 kept South Africa in the chase until the final stages.
Sent in to bat, Namibia looked set for a total that could take the game away from South Africa. Jan Frylinck and Louren Steenkamp attacked from the start, putting on 84 for the first wicket, with both batters finding the boundary regularly. Steenkamp fell for 41 off 29, but Frylinck carried on, reaching his fifty in style with two sixes before falling for 60 off 38. At 116/2 after 13 overs, Namibia were in control and had every reason to think 180 was within reach. Instead, South Africa found a way back.
The collapse was sudden. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton top-edged a sweep, Gerhard Erasmus picked out deep backward square leg, and then Zane Green and JJ Smit were both beaten by Prenelan Subrayen’s yorkers. Namibia went from 116/2 to 133/6, losing four wickets for 17 runs. The innings was in danger of slipping away completely, but late runs pushed them to 163/9.
South Africa, in turn, were 19/2 inside four overs and 39/3 after de Zorzi was beaten by Heingo’s pace, before Brevis and Rubin Hermann began to rebuild. Brevis survived a nasty blow on the helmet from Max Heingo, then exploded against Scholtz, hitting one six out of the ground and another over long-on.
Brevis kept South Africa in the contest even after Hermann fell, reaching his fifty with another six over midwicket. He and debutant Duan Jansen took the visitors to 116/5 after 16 overs and then 129/5 after 17, but Namibia finally found the breakthrough they needed. Trumpelmann returned for the 18th over and, after two excellent wide yorkers, Brevis went after a full toss and found the outer half. Jack Brassell ran across and held a sharp catch at short third. Brevis was gone for 75 and the chase unravelled quickly.
Fortuin was bowled by a pinpoint Erasmus yorker in the 19th over, leaving 28 to get from the last six balls. Smit conceded only nine, taking two wickets in the over to finish the job and send Windhoek into celebration.
Brief Scores: Namibia 163/9 (Jan Frylinck 60; Prenelan Subrayen 3-32) beat South Africa 145/9 (Dewald Brevis 75; Ruben Trumpelmann 3-24, JJ Smit 3-31) by 18 runs
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