Namibia Stuns South Africa with Last-Ball Victory in Historic T20I Upset

Windhoek, October 11 (Udaipur Kiran) — In one of the most remarkable upsets in T20I history, Namibia defeated South Africa by four wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish at the Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek. Chasing 135 for victory, Namibia reached the target on the final delivery to record a memorable win — their first-ever international victory at home.

South Africa, batting first, managed 134/8 in their 20 overs. Jason Smith top-scored with 31 runs, while star players Quinton de Kock (1), Reeza Hendricks (7), and captain Donovan Ferreira (4) failed to make an impact. For Namibia, Ruben Trumpelmann starred with both bat and ball, taking three wickets and remaining unbeaten on 11 runs, earning the Player of the Match award.

Namibia’s Fourth Win Over a Full-Member Nation

This victory marks Namibia’s fourth win against a full-member team in T20 internationals, having previously beaten Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka. It was also South Africa’s second-ever defeat to an associate nation in T20Is — their first came against the Netherlands at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Adelaide.

Interestingly, this was only the second time South Africa lost a T20I on the final ball, the previous instance being against Australia in 2016 at Johannesburg. For Namibia, it was their second last-ball win, the first coming in 2022 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Last-Over Drama

Namibia’s chase was far from smooth. Openers Lohan Steenkamp (13) and Jan Frylinck (13) fell early, and captain Gerhard Erasmus contributed just 21 runs. With the score at 84/5, wicketkeeper Zane Green (30* off 23, 2 fours, 1 six) took charge, leading a tense finish.

Needing 11 runs in the final over bowled by Andile Simelane, Green smashed a six off the first ball to shift the momentum. A single followed, before Trumpelmann added a two and a single. The fifth ball was a dot, leaving four runs required off the final delivery. Green then lofted the last ball over mid-wicket for a boundary, sealing Namibia’s historic win and sparking wild celebrations at the ground.

Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.

Source link