The Big-Hitting Chevrons: Highest Totals By Zimbabwe Against Namibia In T20Is

Arnav Chopra

Ervine, Ervine, Madhevere, Raza, Bennett (Source: @ZimCricketv, @ICC/X.com)Ervine, Ervine, Madhevere, Raza, Bennett (Source: @ZimCricketv, @ICC/X.com)

The Zimbabwean cricket team has consistently churned out some high-quality performances, especially in T20I cricket, on the back of some outstanding players. In the recent past, their performances have consistently improved, with their regular stars stepping up on multiple occasions.

Looking at the recent history, they have had some great results in their favour, where they have dominated the opposition with their elevated skills. Therefore, in this article, we will have a look at Zimbabwe's highest scores in T20I cricket against Namibia, considering their ongoing series.

5) 153/6, Windhoek, 2023

Zimbabwe's fifth-highest score against Namibia came in 2023, when they were touring Namibia and playing in Windhoek. In the 4th T20I of the 5-match series, Zimbabwe, batting first, scored 153 for the loss of six wickets, where skipper Craig Ervine scored a brilliant 54 not out off 43 deliveries with three boundaries and a maximum at a strike rate of 125.58, as his knock helped Zimbabwe post a competitive total.

However, in reply, the Zimbabwean side couldn't defend the total, as the hosts, Namibia, ran away with the chase with eight deliveries and seven wickets to spare, on the back of opener Michael van Lingen's 47. Ryan Burl from Zimbabwe was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2 for 22 in four overs, but couldn't help his side defend the total.

4) 153/4, Bulawayo, 2022

At fourth position on this list is another score of 153 posted by Zimbabwe against Namibia in Bulawayo in 2022. It was the first T20I of this series in 2022 when Namibia were touring Zimbabwe, where, in this game as well, the Chevrons, after batting first, could manage 153 for the loss of four wickets. Again, skipper Ervine proved his mettle, scoring an unbeaten 55 off 39 deliveries with three boundaries and as many maximums, taking Zimbabwe to a defendable total.

Nonetheless, this time, the result was different, as they were able to defend the target by just seven runs in a nail-biting thriller. Despite Divan la Cock's 66, Namibia could only register 146 after the end of their 20 overs with five wickets down, as Milton Shumba claimed three wickets for 16 runs in his three overs and halted the Namibian batting lineup in this encounter.

3) 157/8, Bulawayo, 2022

Residing in third place is Zimbabwe's 157, which they achieved in the first innings of the fourth T20I in Bulawayo in 2022, when Namibia were touring. On the back of an outstanding 50 by opener Wesley Madhevere, Zimbabwe were able to achieve 157 for the loss of eight wickets after the end of their 20 overs, where Madhevere's five boundaries and a maximum at a strike rate of 156.25 helped them get to a competitive total.

Regardless, this game again turned out to be a nail-biting thriller where Namibia achieved the target on the very final delivery, as skipper Gerhard Erasmus scored a fantastic 59 not out off 43 balls with four boundaries and a maximum. At the same time, he was very well supported by Michael van Lingen's 51, where Namibia won with six wickets on the very final delivery.

2) 200/5, Windhoek, 2023

The second-highest total achieved by Zimbabwe against Namibia was in May 2023, when they were playing at Windhoek. In this game, the hosts batted first and put up a tough score of 198 runs on the board after the end of the 20 overs, where they only lost three wickets. Openers Michael van Lingen and Nikolaas Davin scored 67 and 60, respectively, taking Namibia to a decent score.

Chasing 199 for victory, Zimbabwe played a magnificent thriller and chased the score down on the very final delivery, courtesy of skipper Sikandar Raza, who played dazzlingly, scoring 82 not out of just 35 balls with three boundaries and nine gigantic sixes at a magnificent strike rate of 234.28, as he steered his side, Zimbabwe, to victory by five wickets in another classic cliff-hanger between these two nations in the second T20I of the series.

1) 211/3, Bulawayo, 2025*

Now at the number one position on this list is Zimbabwe's 211/3, which came in the just-completed game between both these sides in the ongoing series. In the first T20I in Bulawayo, where Namibia are touring Zimbabwe, the hosts Zimbabwe batted first and put up a mammoth 211 for three after completing their quota of 20 overs, where opener Brian Bennett decided to counter the Namibian bowling attack with his fluent 94, coming off just 51 deliveries with eight boundaries and four maximums at a strike rate of 184.31.

While he was very well backed by Tadiwanashe Marumani, who achieved 62 off 48 balls with six fours and two maximums, taking Zimbabwe to an outstanding total at their home ground.

Going after 212 for victory, the Namibian side could only manage 178 for seven after the completion of their overs, where there was no significant contribution from their batting lineup, as they lost the game by 33 runs. Zimbabwe turned out on top in this encounter after posting their highest-ever total against their African neighbours in a solid batting performance. Thanks to this wonderful effort, Zimbabwe went 1-0 ahead in the three-match T20I series.