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Zimbabwe Decimate Namibia To Go 1-0 Up, Bennett And Marumani 50s Lead The Way

Aakash Saini

Zimbabwe won the first T20I [Source: @ZimCricketv/x]Zimbabwe won the first T20I [Source: @ZimCricketv/x]

Zimbabwe pulverized Namibia in the first T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Both opening batters, Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani struck blistering half-centuries to lead the way before bowlers collectively restricted Namibia in their run-chase.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the first T20I of the three-match series between Zimbabwe and Namibia, as it panned out at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday, September 15.

Bennett, Marumani Go Berserk At The Top

Zimbabwe batted first and mounted 211-3 from 20 overs. Opening batters Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani both unleashing cracking half-centuries and shared a colossal 124-run stand in just 14 overs. Bennett top-scored in the innings with a swift 94 off 51 balls from eight fours and four huge sixes. Marumani also made a regal 62 in 48 balls with six boundaries and two maximums.

Ryan Burl (22 off 9) and captain Sikandar Raza (23* off 11) provided the slog-overs surge with scorching cameos. For Namibia, fast bowler Alexander Busing-Volschenk picked up the wickets of Burl and Marumani to claim figures of 2-43 in his four overs.

Muzarabani And Masakadza Strangle Namibia

Blessing Muzarabani struck with the new ball with the wicket of Namibia opener Malan Kruger for just 13. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton at number three crafted a pacey 38 from 24 balls and formed a counterattacking 56-run partnership with Jan Frylinck, until both well-set batters were dismissed by Wellington Masakadza (1-23) and Sikandar Raza (2-31) respectively.

Zane Green made 33 in 27 balls during the backend of the innings, but lack of notable partnerships eventually kept Namibia down to just 178-7. Muzarabani picked up another wicket late in the innings to claim figures of 2-38 as Zimbabwe won the match by 33 runs to go 1-0 up in the series.