South Africa’s captain, Bjorn Fortuin, grabbed career-best figures of 4/33 in 10 overs as the Proteas dismissed Namibia for 156 in 36.2 overs in the third and final ODI at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek on Sunday.
Namibia, already two down in the series, won the toss for the third time in a row and this time opted to bat first. The visitors’ opening attack of Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka was pacy and hostile and Michael van Lingen was soon out, well caught on the square-leg boundary by Maphaka attempting to hook. Maphaka then beat Jan Frylinck for pace with a full and straight one, shattering his stumps.
Bent on survival, Alexander Busing-Volschenk and Louren Steenkamp featured in a conservative partnership of 53 in 83 balls to partially resurrect the innings before Steenkamp became Fortuin’s first victim, bowled neck and crop after being beaten through the air by a slower, fuller delivery.
Steenkamp’s dismissal was the first of three wickets to fall for seven runs in two overs, with Busing-Volschenk being run out after a direct hit from fielder Nqobani Mokoena and then skipper Gerhard Erasmus holing out off Fortuin to Mokoena at long-off.
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton was leg before sweeping at Fortuin who completed his four-for when he bowled Waldo Smith.
It was left to wicketkeeper Zane Green (33 off 42 balls) and tailender Max Heingo to provide the innings with a small flourish with the latter raising some belated cheers from spectators as he belted an unbeaten 20 in six balls with two sixes and two fours.
Aside from his excellent bowling figures, Fortuin pulled off the catch of the innings, diving full length running back in the covers to dismiss Green to end the Namibian innings. Maphaka and legspinner Nqaba Peter captured a couple of wickets each as the hosts again disappointed with the bat.
Namibia: Michael van Lingen, Alex Busing-Volschenck, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Gerhard Erasmus (capt), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Waldo Smith, Jack Brassell, Max Heingo
South Africa: Jordan Hermann, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Jason Smith, Corbin Bosch, Eathan Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter, Kwena Maphaka