Innocent Kaia struck a career-best 72 for Zimbabwe in a five-wicket victory over hosts Namibia in a Twenty20 tri-series match on Thursday.

Advertisement

Put in to bat in Windhoek, Namibia made 156-6, thanks mainly to an unbeaten 88 from captain Gerhard Erasmus.

Zimbabwe reached 159-5 with 11 balls remaining.

Kaia, batting at No.3, had fruitful partnerships of 61 with Brian Bennett and 54 with captain Sikandar Raza as Zimbabwe completed a double over Namibia after a five-run win on Monday.

Kaia struck three sixes and eight fours from 42 balls before his mistimed pull off a Jack Brassell delivery was caught by Erasmus at mid on.

"It is great contributing significantly to a victory. I planned to be aggressive and take on the Namibian bowlers. It paid off," player-of-the-match award winner Kaia told reporters.

Like Kaia, Erasmus struck three sixes and eight fours in his knock. His 83-run fourth-wicket stand with Alexander Busing-Volschenk (29) was the highlight of the innings.


Brief scores

Namibia 156-6 in 20 overs (G. Erasmus 88 not out, A. Busing-Volschenk 29 not out; B. Evnns 2-29, K. Matigimu 2-31) v Zimbabwe 159-5 in 18.1 overs (I. Kaia 72, S. Raza 29; R. Trumpelmann 2-41)

Result: Zimbabwe won by five wickets

Toss: Zimbabwe

Also Read: Special Cricket Stories

Friday: Namibia v South Africa (1200 GMT)
 

About the Author

AFP News
Agence France-Presse (AFP) - Global News Leader AFP News: Agence France-Presse (AFP) is a world-renowned international news agency delivering real-time, accurate, and unbiased news coverage across politics, business, sports, technology, and global affairs. Founded in 1835, AFP operates in 151 countries, providing breaking news, investigative journalism, and multimedia content in multiple languages. With a vast network of correspondents, AFP ensures fast, verified, and high-quality news reporting, making it a trusted source for media, businesses, and governments worldwide. Stay updated with global headlines, exclusive reports, and in-depth analysis Read More
Latest Cricket News