Namibia on Saturday (October 11) once again showed why they deserve more matches in international cricket, this time by beating 2024 T20 World Cup finalists South Africa on the last ball at the Namibia Cricket
Ground in Windhoek. It was a win as steeped in history as memorable narratives.
This was Namibia’s first T20I against South Africa, their neighbors and with whom they share a long history. The two teams will be co-hosting the 2027 World Cup, but Namibia hadn’t even been given a direct spot in the tournament — showing the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s efforts for them.
Watch the winning moment here:
HISTORY IN WINDHOEK 😳
Namibia beat South Africa in their first-ever meeting. A dream start at their new home ground💥#NAMvSA pic.twitter.com/RW8daWpeu8
— FanCode (@FanCode) October 11, 2025
South Africa weren’t full-strength but had their own storylines to worry about, with a return for Quinton de Kock after ages at the top. He got out in the first over — a way of Namibia perhaps culling the early hero story line — and South Africa struggled to find anyone to score even 35 runs.
Jason Smith top-scored with 31 (30), and the Proteas could only muster 134/8. Pacer Ruben Trumplemann toppled three for 28 in a commanding performance with the ball.
It should still have been enough for an attack consisting of Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee and other superstars of the SA20. Namibia showed signs of relenting, too, being reduced to 101/6 in the 17th over wicketkeeper Zane Green, on his birthday, stepped up with a 23-ball 30 and found an 11-run cameo from Trumplemann, as they found the 11 runs needed in the last over, including a four off the ultimate ball, to script history.
“Obviously you can see what it means for the team. If you look into the crowd spaces, you can see what it means for them. And that’s what’s special about, I think, any national team playing in front of their own people – it’s how you inspire the next generation to play, and how you inspire the community upwards, I guess. The guys did it with good skill,” captain Gerhard Erasmus said afterward.
“Such a special moment. It’s so important to play against high-quality opposition. The South African side – certainly we’d like them to come over a little bit more. So thank you for coming, for playing in such good spirit with our boys, and for the good skill our people got to see. This is just the start of things going upward. You’ll find each and every Namibian child that’s watching at home, or right next to the field. Look, we’re a small community, but we’re very tight. We’re very tight-knit, not only around the Windhoek area, but all across the country,” he added.
This was only the second time South Africa lost to an associate nation.
