Erasmus the star as Namibia level series with last-ball win
Bernard Scholtz's three-for and Michael van Lingen's half-century played their part in pushing Zimbabwe back
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-May-2022
Gerhard Erasmus led from the front to shepherd Namibia to a series-levelling win • ICC via Getty
Namibia 161 for 4 (Erasmus 59*, van Lingen 51, Jongwe 2-35) beat Zimbabwe 157 for 8 (Madhevere 50, Scholtz 3-25) by six wickets
Gerhard Erasmus led the way with the bat and in the field to help Namibia complete a six-wicket win off the last ball to level the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe after four games. He made 59 not out in 43 balls and effected the run out to send back Wessley Madhevere, Zimbabwe's highest scorer, in a Player-of-the-Match performance.
Chasing 158 for victory, Namibia were 47 for 2 inside the powerplay when Erasmus and opener Michael van Lingen got together, and they propelled the innings forward with a 77-run partnership. Zimbabwe fought back with a couple of wickets - including that of van Lingen for 51 in 48 balls - and a four-run 18th over from Tendai Chatara. But Erasmus hit Luke Jongwe for two fours in the 19th over to keep just five runs for the last over. Chatara managed to take the contest to the last ball, but Zane Green sent it for a four to complete the job.
Earlier, Zimbabwe made 157 for 8 on the back of Madhevere's 32-ball 50 at the top after being put into bat. He got support from the captain, Craig Ervine, as they put up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, which helped them get to 83 for 2 by the halfway stage.
But Ervine's wicket in the tenth over, for a 17-ball 22, started a collapse of five wickets for the addition of just 14 runs in the space of 22 balls, which left Zimbabwe at 95 for 6 with 6.4 overs remaining. A quick 38-run stand between Richmond Mutumbami and Jongwe, however, lifted them to a competitive total. Bernard Scholtz was the pick of the bowlers for Namibia with his three-wicket burst.