T20I Tri-Series: Zimbabwe escape with narrow win over Namibia
What's the story
Zimbabwe narrowly escaped a major upset against Namibia in the ongoing T20I tri-series. The match, played on Monday, witnessed an impressive 94-run seventh-wicket partnership between Ryan Burl and Brad Evans for Zimbabwe. The duo helped their team post a total of 195/6 after being in trouble at 101/6. However, Namibia's Zane Green and Alexander Busing-Volschenk gave them a scare with their own record seventh-wicket stand of 110 runs. They eventually fell short by five runs (190/10).
Match highlights
Zimbabwe lose momentum after strong start
Zimbabwe started their innings on a high note with Ben Curran and Brian Bennett putting up a quick 64-run opening partnership.
However, Namibia struck back with five wickets inside 15 runs.
However, Ryan Burl and Brad Evans rescued Zimbabwe with a stunning 94-run partnership for the eighth wicket off just 48 balls.
Namibia's decision to bowl spin in the last over backfired heavily as Burl took on Erasmus, scoring 20 runs from it and helping Zimbabwe post a formidable total of 195/6.
Last-minute thriller
A record stand for Namibia as well
Namibia's chase started with a few close calls before Louren Steenkamp was dismissed by Blessing Muzarabani in the third over.
Wickets continued to fall as the hosts looked down and out at 76/6.
However, Volschenk and Green staged an extraordinary recovery with aggressive batting, having added 110 runs.
The duo took Namibia close to victory, needing 16 runs off the last over.
Zimbabwe's Evans bowled the final over, but his first delivery was a no-ball due to extra fielders outside the circle.
Busing-Volschenk scored his half-century off Evans's first legitimate delivery of that over, putting pressure on Zimbabwe.
Key catches
How did the final over pan out?
In a dramatic turn of events, Green was run out by a direct hit from Sikandar Raza while pushing for two.
Busing-Volschenk took it on himself to do the job as he laced Evans down the ground for four. That left Namibia needing six runs off three balls.
In a dramatic twist, Busing-Volschenk was caught behind by a diving Tadiwanashe Marumani, who took the catch one-handed,
Bernard Scholtz was run-out at the non-striker's end unsure if he should take a single, and Jack Brassell was bowled off the final delivery to give Zimbabwe a team hat-trick and a massive sigh of relief.
Burl
Fine half-century from Burl
Burl was on a roll, smashing seven fours and a six en route to his 32-ball 57*.
With this effort, he has raced to 2,175 runs from 126 T20I matches at 26.52. His strike rate reads 124.64.
He struck his 6th fifty for Zimbabwe, as per Cricinfo.
Notably, Sikandar Raza (3,154) is the only batter with more T20I runs in Zimbabwe colors.
Overall in T20s, Burl has amassed 3,969 runs from 210 matches at 30.06. He slammed his 14th fifty.
Knocks
Vital 30s from the trio
Bennett smashed six during his 21-ball 32. His opening partner, Curran, smashed 38 off just 22 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes).
Evans complemented Burl well with his 37* off 25 deliveries (2 fours, 2 sixes).
The former also went on to claim three wickets with the ball (3/41 in four overs).
The pacer now boasts 57 wickets from 39 T20Is at an economy of 8.48.
Bennett struck twice in his only over, giving away eight runs.
Blessing Muzarabani (1/39), Sikandar Raza (1/31), and Wellington Masakadza (1/25) took a wicket apiece.
Fifties
Key numbers for Green, Volschenk
Green scored a brilliant 54 off just 26 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes.
This was his second T20I fifty, which took him to 750 runs from 83 games at 17.44.
Meanwhile, Volschenk hammered three fours and four sixes for his 56 off 29 balls.
His third fifty across 14 T20Is took him to 282 runs at an average of 35.25.
Information
Three wickets for Erasmus
Skipper Erasmus was the pick of the Namibian bowlers, finishing with 3/46 from four overs. This spell took him to 69 T20I wickets at an economy of 6.07. Bernard Scholtz (1/27) and Max Heingo (1/25) were the other wicket-takers for the team.
Stands
Two historic stands in the match
As per Cricinfo, Burl and Evans's 94-run stand is the highest for any Zimbabwe pair for the seventh wicket or lower (T20Is).
No other Zimbabwe pair even has an 80-plus partnership in this regard.
The 110-run stand between Green and Volschenk is also the maiden 75-plus partnership for Namibia (7th wicket or lower).
Belgium's Saber Zakhil and Saqlain Ali are the only other pair to add 100 or more runs for these wickets in T20Is (132* vs Austria, 2021)