Zimbabwe won by 5 runs
Namibia vs Zimbabwe Match Report, Tri-Nation Series 2026
Zimbabwe beat Namibia by 5 runs – Tri-Nation Series Match Report
Match report, Mon 31 Aug
Zimbabwe won by 5 runs in the 9th match of 20 in the Tri-Nation Series at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek. Brad Evans delivered a match-defining all-round performance – 37 off 25 with the bat and 3/41 with the ball – as Zimbabwe held their nerve in a tense chase to deny Namibia and keep their tournament hopes alive.
Zimbabwe’s Innings – Burl Powers Late Surge
Namibia won the toss and elected to bowl first. Zimbabwe’s top order provided a solid platform, with Brian Bennett striking 32 off 21 (6 fours) and Ben Curran adding 38 off 22 (2 fours, 2 sixes). However, the middle order stuttered – Dion Myers fell for 2 at 69/3 in the 6th over, and Sikandar Raza departed for a duck at 72/4 in the 7th.
Ryan Burl took charge with a devastating 57 off 32 (7 fours, 1 six) at a strike rate of 178, rescuing Zimbabwe from 72/4. Tadiwanashe Marumani contributed 18 off 11 (1 four, 1 six), and Brad Evans finished unbeaten on 37 off 25 (2 fours, 2 sixes) to propel Zimbabwe to 195/6. Gerhard Erasmus was Namibia’s standout bowler with 3/46 from 4 overs, while Bernard Scholtz and JJ Smit each took 1 wicket.
Namibia’s Chase – Green and Busing-Volschenk Fall Short
Namibia’s chase began promisingly with Jan Frylinck scoring 22 off 29 (2 fours), but early wickets disrupted the momentum. Louren Steenkamp fell for 6 at 14/2 in the 2nd over, and Gerhard Erasmus departed for 12 at 28/3 in the 4th.
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton struck 20 off 13 (3 fours) before falling LBW at 60/4 in the 9th over. The chase came alive when Zane Green unleashed a brilliant 54 off 26 (7 fours, 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 208, and Alexander Busing-Volschenk matched him with 56 off 29 (3 fours, 4 sixes) at 193. The pair added 121 runs in a thrilling partnership, bringing Namibia within touching distance at 187/7 in the 19th over.
However, Green was run out at 187/7 in the 19.2nd over, and Busing-Volschenk fell caught at 190/8 in the 19.4th, leaving Namibia five runs short. Brad Evans was the architect of Zimbabwe’s victory, claiming 3/41 from 4 overs while maintaining an economy of 10.25. Blessing Muzarabani took 1/39 from 4 overs, and Sikandar Raza claimed 1/31 from 4.
Statz MVP: Brad Evans (Statz Rating: 91.75)
Brad Evans earns the Statz MVP award with a mi_rating of 91.75. His unbeaten 37 off 25 with the bat provided crucial late-order acceleration, while his 3/41 with the ball proved decisive during Namibia’s chase. Evans’ combined impact across both disciplines was the difference in a match decided by just 5 runs. Official Man of the Match also awarded to Brad Evans.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Brad Evans (Zimbabwe) – Statz Rating: 91.75 | 37 off 25 (SR 148) plus 3/41 with the ball. Dominant all-round display in a tight contest.
- Zane Green (Namibia) – Statz Rating: 78.82 | 54 off 26 (SR 208, 7 fours, 2 sixes). Nearly won the match single-handedly in defeat.
- Alexander Busing-Volschenk (Namibia) – Statz Rating: 76.93 | 56 off 29 (SR 193, 3 fours, 4 sixes). Strong late-order assault kept Namibia in the hunt.
- Ryan Burl (Zimbabwe) – Statz Rating: 68.9 | 57 off 32 (SR 178, 7 fours, 1 six). Rescued Zimbabwe from middle-order collapse.
- Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia) – Statz Rating: 65.87 | 3/46 from 4 overs with the ball. Namibia’s leading wicket-taker on the night.
Turning Point
The match turned when Zane Green was run out at 187/7 in the 19.2nd over. Green had been carrying Namibia’s chase with a strike rate of 208, and his dismissal left Namibia needing 9 off 5 balls with the lower order exposed. Though Busing-Volschenk pushed them agonisingly close, the loss of Green shifted the balance decisively in Zimbabwe’s favour.
Match Context
This was the 9th match of 20 in the Tri-Nation Series. Zimbabwe (1W 1L, 2pts, NRR -1.505) pick up a crucial away win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Namibia (1W 1L, 2pts, NRR 0.325) will rue how close they came – just 5 runs from what would have been a statement victory. See the full scorecard on Statz for the complete breakdown, or explore the bet builder for indicative odds.
Namibia vs Zimbabwe Questions
When is Namibia vs Zimbabwe?
Namibia vs Zimbabwe starts at 13:00 UK time (17:30 in India) on Monday 31 August 2026, at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek, part of Tri-Nation Series 2026; this page has the form, the head to head, the ground and the projections for the match.
What is the Namibia vs Zimbabwe head to head?
Zimbabwe lead the Namibia vs Zimbabwe head to head at 8-7 from 15 T20 meetings, and the latest, on 3 September 2026 at Namibia Cricket Ground, was won by Zimbabwe.
What is Namibia's recent form?
Namibia have won 2 and lost 3 of their last 5 T20 matches, newest first L L L W W; most recently they lost to South Africa on 04 Sep, 217/3 to 228/4.
What is Zimbabwe's recent form?
Zimbabwe have won 1 and lost 4 of their last 5 T20 matches, newest first L L L L W; most recently they lost to Afghanistan on 01 Nov, 79 to 81/3.
What is a good score at Namibia Cricket Ground?
A good first-innings score at Namibia Cricket Ground is around 170, the average over its last 17 T20 matches, and the side batting first has won 53% of them, so batting first has had the edge there.