By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Zimbabwe Cricket.
South Africa’s men and women both won their respective international assignments on Friday, although they did so in markedly different circumstances.
In Windhoek, the Proteas men secured an ODI series victory with a game to spare. In Bulawayo, the women opened their five match T20I series against Zimbabwe with a convincing six wicket win.
Connor Esterhuizen was the architect of South Africa’s latest imposing batting display in Namibia, scoring his maiden ODI century as the Proteas posted 335 for 8 before bowling the hosts out for 179.
It was another substantial total from a side that had already passed 300 in the opening match of the series, and this time the platform was built by Esterhuizen and Tony de Zorzi. The pair put on 183 for the second wicket, patiently absorbing Namibia’s early pressure before taking control.
De Zorzi made 79, while Esterhuizen accelerated sharply through the second half of his innings. He reached his hundred with a straight six off Gerhard Erasmus and eventually made 119 from 110 balls, with his innings containing five sixes.
South Africa’s middle order then supplied the finishing force. Eathan Bosch struck three sixes on his way to a brisk contribution, while Dewald Brevis added 38 from 30 balls.
The chase never developed into a contest. Duan Jansen claimed four wickets, Eathan Bosch three and debutant Nqobani Mokoena took his first ODI wicket as Namibia slipped to 32 for 5.
Gerhard Erasmus resisted with 57, his first ODI half century in eight innings, but Namibia were eventually dismissed in the 42nd over. Their 156 run defeat was their fourth biggest in ODI cricket.
The result gives South Africa an unassailable 2 -0 series lead with the final match to come on Sunday.
In Bulawayo, the Proteas Women produced an equally emphatic result, though their match was shaped by two individual performances that could hardly have been more different.
Nthabiseng Nini marked her international debut by taking three wickets for 17 runs, while Anneke Bosch smashed a career best 83 from just 43 balls as South Africa chased down Zimbabwe’s 117 with 41 balls remaining.
Nini’s introduction could scarcely have been more dramatic. She became only the second Proteas Women player, after Chloé Tryon, to take a wicket with her first ball in international cricket when Nyasha Gwanzura was dismissed for three.
Four balls later, Kelis Ndhlovu was bowled without scoring. Nini struck again soon afterwards and Zimbabwe were 12 for 4 inside four overs.
Modeste Mupachikwa steadied the innings with 36, adding useful partnerships before South Africa’s bowlers returned to close out the innings. Kayla Reyneke claimed three for 29, while Annerie Dercksen took two for 15 and Eliz Mari Marx finished with one for nine.
South Africa lost Laura Wolvaardt early in the chase, but Bosch took the game away from Zimbabwe. She reached her sixth T20I half century and continued attacking until her dismissal late in the innings.
By then, the damage had been done.
The two victories offered different routes to the same destination: South Africa’s men have already secured a series win in Namibia, while the women have established an early advantage in Zimbabwe. Both sides return to action on Sunday, with the Proteas Women facing Zimbabwe again at Queen’s Sports Club from 13:30 and the men completing their ODI series in Windhoek.