TADIWANASHE Marumani played with authority while Richard Ngarava struck at key moments with the ball, guiding Zimbabwe to a confident seven-wicket win over Namibia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier final at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Chasing 168 for victory, Zimbabwe’s reply was anchored by wicketkeeper-batsman Marumani, who carried his bat with a composed 74 not out from 61 deliveries, striking three fours and two sixes. His knock was the backbone of the innings, ensuring stability even as wickets fell around him.
Marumani lost his opening partner Brian Bennett early for 15 off 11 balls, before forging a crucial 88-run second-wicket stand with Dion Myers. Myers played fluently for his 44 off 33 balls, including two boundaries and a six, but was bowled by Bernard Scholtz just when Zimbabwe looked set to accelerate. Captain Sikandar Raza followed for a first-ball duck, leaving the game finely poised at 117 for three in the 15th over.
It was then that Ryan Burl joined Marumani, and together they steered Zimbabwe home with an unbroken 54-run stand. Burl’s cameo of 26 not out from 12 balls, laced with four boundaries, provided the late flourish as Zimbabwe reached 171 for three in 19.2 overs.
Scholtz was Namibia’s most effective bowler, returning two for 21 in four overs, while Shikongo picked up the wicket of Bennett.
Earlier, Namibia posted a competitive 167 for six in their 20 overs, with captain Gerhard Erasmus top-scoring with 38 off 32 balls, supported by Louren Steenkamp’s 40 from 27. The pair looked threatening during the middle overs, but Zimbabwe’s attack, led by Richard Ngarava, kept striking at crucial moments.
Ngarava was outstanding with the ball, finishing with three for 26 in four overs. He dismissed Frylinck, Loftie-Eaton, and Erasmus each breakthrough derailing Namibia’s momentum. Wellington Masakadza also bowled with control, taking one for 22 in four overs, while Ryan Burl’s part-time spin accounted for Malan Kruger.
Namibia’s late surge came through Johannes Smit (23 off 20) and Ruben Trumpelmann (18 not out off 11), but Zimbabwe’s bowlers, backed by sharp fielding, restricted them to just 28 runs in the final four overs.
