Namibia made history immediately after qualifying for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. They made history in the one-off T20I as they inaugurated the new Namibia Cricket Ground with a T20I match against South Africa for the first time in any international format.
The Namibia Cricket Association is also one of the official co-hosts for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 alongside South Africa and Zimbabwe. The ground has been built to host the teams for the World Cup matches scheduled in the nation.
Namibia wins against a weakened South Africa side
Namibia played against South Africa for the first time in any international format and then beat them in a thrilling contest between the two teams. The major upset came against a weakened South African side, as all the senior cricketers were absent from the side.
But Namibia won’t care what kind of South African team they earned their victory against, as they celebrated in front of a 4000-capacity crowd at the inauguration of the Namibia Cricket Ground.
South Africa is the fourth full-member side to be defeated by Namibia, while the likes of Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Sri Lanka were among the teams defeated previously.
Much like South Africa, which lost wickets early in their innings, the Namibian innings too started badly, and they were reduced to 84/5 in the 13th over. However, their lower-order performed stunningly, with Zane Green’s unbeaten 30 sealing the win for the side.
Quinton de Kock’s International comeback was short-lived
The stage was all set for one of the most highly anticipated returns in the International format, as the South African veteran Quinton de Kock made his comeback to the shortest format of the game.
Quinton de Kock carded at no. 1; however, the legendary batter’s return was short-lived. Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus opened the bowling, and de Kock brought out his famous pull first up. Having gotten his first runs to mid-wicket, he then attempted to smash it over the square leg but miscued it to Ruben Trumpelman. He was dismissed for just 1 run off 4 balls.
De Kock also returned with the gloves for South Africa and took the only chance he had very cleanly; however, it was off a no-ball in the first over of the Namibian innings.
Gerald Coetzee ends up getting injured
Gerald Coetzee was brought on first change and made an early impact. He started too straight and was flicked to the boundary; however, the bowler quickly readjusted his length to initially surprise Lourens Steenkamp and then went on to bowl him. Namibia were two wickets down for 28 runs.
He started his second over with a wide down the leg side, which was the beginning of the disaster. He then got hit for four by Erasmus and then bowled three more wides.
The next ball passed Coetzee’s edge, and whatever extra effort Coetzee put into that seemed to have caused the damage. He left the field with three balls remaining. A CSA update said the injury was likely to the pectoral muscle.