Connor Esterhuizen struck his debut century in his second match to power South Africa to 335 for nine wickets in the second ODI against Namibia at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek on Friday.
So far, the match has taken on the same narrative arc as the first match on Wednesday in which South Africa compiled 348 for six after losing the toss and being put into bat.
Once again the Proteas lost an early wicket, this time Jordan Hermann for 20 in the eighth over after his epic debut 150 in the first match. Again the Proteas recovered royally with a second-wicket stand of 183 in 168 balls by Esterhuizen and Tony de Zorzi. De Zorzi had helped Hermann add 190 on Wednesday while scoring 72. This time he compiled a solid 79 in 87 balls (6x4s, 1x6) before Esterhuizen was out for an excellent 119 (110 balls, 8x4s, 6x6s) when he holed out to mid-off.
Having reached 214 for one in the 36th over, South Africa would have been slightly disappointed to have only reached their final total, losing three wickets for 19 in three overs as their momentum was disrupted.
De Zorzi looked set for a hundred but was well caught at midwicket and Matthew Breetzke went cheaply. Dewald Brevis threatened mayhem with three huge sixes but, as on Wednesday, fell to a soft dismissal on 37 just when he was poised to take control. Again, there was a brisk cameo from Bosch – this time Eathan not Corbin – who slammed four sixes in his 13-ball 29 to take the Proteas to their final total.
Seamer Jack Brassell was the most successful bowler for Namibia with 4/64 while Ruben Trumpelmann and offspinner Jan Balt claimed a couple of scalps apiece.
Namibia: Michael van Lingen, Malan Kruger, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Gerhard Erasmus (capt), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Zane Green (wk), JC Balt, Ruben Trumpelmann, Waldo Smith, Jack Brassell
South Africa: Jordan Hermann, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Jason Smith, Eathan Bosch, Duan Jansen, Prenalen Subrayen (capt), Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena