Innocent Kaia’s Career-Best 72 Powers Zimbabwe to Five-Wicket Win Over Namibia

Innocent Kaia’s Career-Best 72 Powers Zimbabwe to Five-Wicket Win Over Namibia (Innocent Kaia’s Career-Best 72 Powers Zimbabwe to Five-Wicket Win Over Namibia)

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.

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

Friday: Namibia v South Africa (1200 GMT)