Namibia lost the opening match of their five-game T20 series against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

The hosts, Zimbabwe, won the toss and elected to bat first before posting a competitive score of 154 runs for four wickets (154/4) in their allotted 20 overs.

The hosts’ captain, Craig Evan, top scored with 55 runs from 39 balls, finding a single boundary (four) and he was ably supported by fellow middle-order batsman Sikandar Raza who scored 37 runs off 32 balls with two fours and a six.

Openers Regis Chakabva and Wesley Madhevere also managed to hit double figures as Zimbabwe laid down the challenge to the Eagles.

Namibia’s response started slowly with openers Craig Williams and Divine la Cock managing to score 67 runs in nine overs between them before the former was caught by Madhevere off Brendon Mavuta bowling for 25 runs.

Eagles Captain Gerhard Erasmus was next to fall from another Milton Shumba delivery caught by Donald Tiripano before Nicole Loftie-Eaton followed him for nine runs off another Shumba bowling.

La Cock tried to stabilise the Namibian bowling but was caught by Luke Jongwe off Shumba’s bowling, with Namibia struggling at 121/4.

He was Namibia’s top run-scorer with 66 off 43 balls.

Zhane Green and David Wiese then provided a tense finish for Zimbabwe as Namibia needed 24 runs from the last two overs, but the former was sent packing with two balls left of the 19th over.

Wiese could not get going as the Zimbabwean attack made sure he does not hit any boundaries in the 11 balls he faced, leading the hosts to a seven-run victory.

Zimbabwe and Namibia will clash again on Thursday at the same venue in the second game of the series.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency