Delhi: On Monday, fans got a chance to enjoy tremendous thrill in the tri-series match played between Namibia and Zimbabwe in Windhoek. Batting first, Zimbabwe scored 195 runs for 6 wickets. In reply, Namibia's team had lost 6 wickets for 76 runs at one time, but Jane Green and Alexander Voloshenk completely turned the match around by batting brilliantly. However, Zimbabwe maintained patience in the last over and won the match by 5 runs on the last ball. Brad Evans was chosen player of the match for his excellent all-round performance.
Zimbabwe got a good start
After losing the toss and coming to bat first, Zimbabwe got a fast start from Ben Curran and Brian Bennett. Both added 64 runs for the first wicket. Bennett was out on the last ball of the powerplay after scoring 32 runs in 21 balls.
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After this, Namibia's bowlers started taking wickets continuously. Dion Myers became the victim of Bernard Scholtz in the very next over. After two balls, Gerhard Erasmus sent Sikandar Raza to the pavilion for a golden duck.
Ben Curran also walked in the ninth over. After this, Erasmus also let Wesley Madhevere go. In no time, Zimbabwe's score became 5 wickets for 79 runs in the 10th over.
Burl and Evans changed the entire match
In a difficult situation, Ryan Burl and Brad Evans took charge of Zimbabwe's innings. Both of them made a record partnership of 94 runs in just 48 balls for the eighth wicket.
In the last over, Namibia handed the ball to spin bowler Gerhard Erasmus, but this decision proved costly. Burl hit a six and three consecutive fours in the over of Erasmus. A total of 20 runs came from this over and Zimbabwe made a strong score of 195 runs for 6 wickets.
Namibia had a bad start
While chasing the target of 196 runs, Namibia definitely got some chances in the beginning, but it could not take advantage of them. Lauren Steenkamp was out in the third over on the ball of Blessing Muzarabani.
Gerhard Erasmus scored 12 runs in quick succession, but Brad Evans also sent him to the pavilion. Jan Nicole Lofty Eaton tried to make a comeback by scoring 20 runs in 13 balls, but Brian Bennett dismissed her and JJ Smit within three consecutive balls.
In the 11th over, Wellington Masakadja showed John Frylink the way to the pavilion for 22 runs. In the next over, Sikandar Raza dismissed Ruben Trumpelman. Namibia had lost 6 wickets for 76 runs in the 12th over and their defeat seemed almost certain.
Green and Volshenk created a sensation
After this, Jane Green and Alexander Voloshenk showed a game which even Zimbabwe might not have expected. Both of them batted aggressively and added 109 runs in just 49 balls for the seventh wicket. This is the biggest partnership for the seventh wicket in T20I.
Wolshenk hit two sixes in one over of Wellington Masakadza and continuously attacked the short balls. On the other hand, Green also started opening his hands. Both scored runs quickly and put pressure on Zimbabwe's bowlers. Namibia needed only 16 runs in the last over. In such a situation, the match appeared to be completely in his control.
The whole match turned upside down in the last over
The responsibility of the last over was given to Brad Evans. He no-balled the very first ball, but Namibia's team could score only 2 runs. After this two more runs came. Then on the second ball, Jane Green was run out after scoring 54 runs in 26 balls.
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Voloshenk kept the hopes alive by hitting a four on the next ball, but his brilliant innings also ended on the fourth ball. He was out after scoring 56 runs in 29 balls. Marumani ended his innings by taking a brilliant catch with one hand behind the wicket.
Namibia needed 9 runs from the last two balls. Bernard Scholtz was run out while trying to score a run on the fifth ball. On the last ball, the team needed a big shot to win against Jack Brassell, but Evans bowled him. In this way, Namibia's team was reduced to 190 runs and Zimbabwe won by 5 runs.