Namibia no match for resurgent Zimbabweans

Zimbabwe A completed their brief tour of Namibia with a 100% record after wins in both one-day matches as well as the one-off Twenty20 international and a warm-up game. The tour, scheduled to help Namibia get ready for next month's ICC World Cup Qualifiers, gave both sides a good workout.

In the first ODI, Namibia posted 235 for 9, thanks largely to Jan-Berrie Burger's 108, while Admire Manyumwa took 4 for 31 in his 10 overs. In reply, Mark Vermeulen's 80 was well backed by Charles Coventry (46) and Timycen Maruma (44) as Zimbabwe A won by three wickets with eight balls to spare.

The following day, Zimbabwe recovered from a collapse which had them at 36 for 6 before Maruma's 67 and Shingirai Masakadza's 46 helped boost them to 189. Again Manyumwa was the star with the ball, taking 6 for 40 as Namibia were dismissed for 149 in the 41st over. Those games had been preceded by a Twenty20 clash in which Zimbabwe A had raced to 189 for 9 in their 20 overs, based on a good team effort more than any single contribution. Namibia were always off the pace and were finally bowled out for 144 in the 20th over.

The trip started with a straightforward nine-wicket win over a Namibian Invitational XI. The home side floundered after a decent start and eventually managed 179, and their bowlers were then taken to the cleaners by Maruma and Erick Chauluka (51*) in an unbeaten second-wicket stand of 144. The in-form Maruma finished on 100 not out, reaching his century off 68 balls.