Namibia open the iconic stadium in Windhoek with a historic four-wicket victory over South Africa

South Africa: 134/8 (Jason Smith 31; Ruben Trumplemann 3/28)

Namibia: 138/6 (Zane Green 30 not out; Andile Simelane 2/14)

Namibia opened the inaugural fixture of the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek with a six-wicket victory over South Africa on Saturday in what was a thrilling contest.

The packed stadium was alive on Saturday, with Namibian fans chanting and getting behind their team as the fixture was decided on the last ball, with wicket-keeper batter Zane Green hitting a boundary off the bowling of Andile Simelane to seal the victory for the hosts.

Green played an important hand in what was a low target of 135, scoring an unbeaten 30 off 23 against a strong Proteas bowling attack that was spearheaded by left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger.

Despite the low target, the Proteas bowling attack would’ve backed themselves to defend the score, with quicks Burger (2/21) and Gerald Coetzee (1/14) striking a blow each inside the first powerplay.

Coetzee would leave the field for a suspected pectoral muscle injury 1.3 overs into his spell, taking the momentum out of the attack.

Seamer Andile Simelane (2/28) and left-arm orthodox Bjorn Fortuin (1/28) put in proper shifts for the visitors, but Green and Ruben Trumplemann (11 not out) led the hosts to a historic victory.

Earlier, the highly anticipated opening pairing of 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius and his hero Quinton de Kock was short-lived, with the partnership lasting only an over as Quinton de Kock was caught in the square-leg region after skying Gerhard Erasmus’ off-spin for an easy catch.

Left-arm quick, Ruben Trumplemann followed up Erasmus’ brilliant new ball spell with disciplined lines and lengths. The fast bowler was quickly rewarded, picking up the wickets of right-handed batter Reeza Hendricks (7) and left-handed batter Rubin Hermann (23).

Hermann had inflicted some damage before he found himself back at the pavilion, as he struck two fours and one six in his 18-ball stay at the wicket.

With the Proteas in trouble, Pretorius’ run-a-ball 22 rescued the innings, while all-rounder Jason Smith struck 31 off 30 deliveries as South Africa struggled to build any meaningful partnerships.

Smith fell to the bowling of Trumpleman, as the left-arm quick finished pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/28, setting up the victory for the hosts.

Medium pacer Max Heingo 2/32 played a key role for the hosts, taking the important wickets of Pretorius and the Proteas captain Donovan Ferreira (4).