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Top-Class Namibia pull off record chase to upset South Africa in a last-ball thriller

Arnav Chopra

NAM vs SA (Source: @Crex_live/X.com)NAM vs SA (Source: @Crex_live/X.com)

It turned out to be an eventful debut for the Wanderers cricket ground in Namibia, where the hosts pulled off an unbelievable chase, shocking the South African side in a major upset, winning by four wickets in a last-ball thriller. Thanks to Zane Green's 30* and Ruben Trumpelmann's three-wicket haul, Namibia defeated the Proteas side at home.

Here, we take a look at the highlights of the one-off T20I between Namibia and South Africa, as it unfolded at the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek.

Ruben Trumpelmann's three-fer restricts South Africa to 134

At the newly constructed cricket ground in Windhoek, the hosts Namibia were asked to bowl by the visiting South African side, who, after opting to bat first, had a poor start, losing their prime opener, Quinton de Kock, for a single run as they lost their first wicket within the first over.

Later, one down batter Reeza Hendricks couldn't do much either, going back to the pavilion for just seven, as South Africa were two down for 25, Namibia were on top at that moment. Following this, Rubin Hermann scored 23 runs off 18 deliveries, while Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored 22 runs off 22 balls.

Later, Jason Smith came and scored a saving 31 off 30 deliveries, while the rest of the batters generally struggled at this venue. Gerald Coetzee's 12 off 6 deliveries helped South Africa post 134 runs at the end of 20 overs, where they lost eight wickets.

Left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann picked up three of those, giving away just 28 runs in his four-over spell, while Max Heingo picked up two wickets in his three overs. Overall, a decent collective bowling effort from Namibia restricted South Africa to an under-par total after the 20 overs.

Zane Green keeps his nerve to pull Namibia over the line in a classic

Chasing 135 for victory, Namibia had a decent start with 22 runs on the board when they lost their opener, Jan Frylinck, for just seven. The second wicket didn't take long either, as his partner, Louren Steenkamp, scored a sluggish 13 off 19 deliveries, leaving Namibia with 28 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets.

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scored 7 off 11, while skipper Gerhard Erasmus scored a run-a-ball 21 in the middle overs. The batters JJ Smit and Malan Kruger struggled in the middle, where Smith scored 13 off 14 deliveries, while Kruger could only manage 18 off 21 deliveries.

The match then reached the final few overs, with Namibia needing 32 runs in the last three overs. Then came the duo of wicketkeeper Zane Green and Ruben Trumpelmann, who batted till the end, as the match went down to the final delivery.

In the end, the home side Namibia required 11 runs in the last six deliveries, with Andile Simelane bowling for South Africa. Green started off with a six, and then the match somehow went down to the final delivery, where the hosts required just a single run.

Green smashed a boundary, taking Namibia to victory in a top-class thriller, as they pulled off a record chase against South Africa by four wickets on the very final delivery, shocking the giants of world cricket.

Zane scored a brilliant unbeaten 30 off 23 deliveries, while he was ably supported by Ruben Trumpelmann's 11* off eight balls as Namibia pulled off the chase on the very last delivery. From the bowling lineup, Nandre Burger was top class with figures of 2 for 21 in his four overs, while Simelane picked up 2 for 28 in his four-over spell.