A superb century on debut by J. Hermann 150 (126 balls, 17x4s, 3x6s) and a second-wicket partnership of 190 with Tony de Zorzi helped power South Africa to a formidable 348 for six in their opening ODI against Namibia at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek on Wednesday.
South Africa, who lost the toss and were put in to bat, were made to work hard in the early going with twin-ODI debutants Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen kept honest by some good disciplined bowling from left-arm pacemen JJ Smit and Ruben Trumpelmann. The Proteas were restricted to 38 in the power play for the loss of Esterhuizen’s wicket, caught hooking at long leg off Trumpelmann.
De Zorzi was fortunate to survive early in his innings when he edged seamer Jack Brassell between wicketkeeper Zane Green and first slip with the former not taking on the responsibility of going for the catch. And shortly afterwards Hermann, on 30, was actually run out going for a quick single but the umpire’s mistake was not rectified because the match had no facility for reviews.
Having benefited from those reprieves, the South African pair gradually began to stretch out as they gained fluency while the Namibian bowlers inevitably began to lose their discipline. By the time De Zorzi (72 off 84 balls, 7x4s, 1x6) was out, leg before attempting a reverse sweep off Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus, the pair had added 190 in 167 balls to set a perfect platform for their team.
Initially, it looked like South Africa would go well past the 350 mark with Dewald Brevis and Hermann adding a brisk 58 off 45 balls for the third wicket, but when Hermann was caught at cover off Trumpelmann, three wickets fell for just 17 runs as South Africa lost momentum. Brevis, after playing with real authority for his 33 off 28 balls, fell to a soft dismissal on the midwicket boundary and it was left to Corben Bosch to provide the late acceleration, smacking an unbeaten 39 off 24 deliveries to give the innings a final flourish. Two reverse sweeps for six off the final over from Smit were remarkable shots.
For Namibia, Trumpelmann claimed 4/68 while Smit was economical for the most part – until the final over when he conceded 16 – with 1/59 off his 10 overs.
NAMIBIA: Malan Kruger, Alex Busing-Volschenk, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Gerhard Erasmus (capt), Zane Green (wk), JC Balt, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo.
SOUTH AFRICA: Jordan Hermann, Connor Esterhuizen, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, Corbin Bosch, Duan Jansen, Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Prenalen Subrayen, Kwena Maphaka.