Connor Esterhuizen's maiden ODI century powers SA to massive win
Connor Esterhuizen's maiden ODI century and a four-wicket haul for Duan Jansen powered South Africa to a 157-run victory over Namibia in the second ODI in Windhoek, sealing the three-match series with one game remaining. Esterhuizen scored 119, while Tony de Zorzi contributed 79 as South Africa posted 335/9 after being asked to bat. Namibia were then bowled out for 178 in 41.5 overs, with Jansen claiming 4 for 31 and Ethan Bosch picking up 3 for 27, while Gerhard Erasmus top-scored for the hosts with 68.
Namibia made a disciplined start with the ball, keeping South Africa in check during the first Powerplay. South Africa were 40 for 1 after 10 overs, with Jordan Hermann departing for a 24-ball 20, getting out to Jack Brassell. Esterhuizen, initially watchful against the movement, began to open up after the powerplay, while de Zorzi settled in alongside him. The Esterhuizen-de Zorzi stand gathered pace, although Namibia briefly managed to put the brakes on, including a maiden from Waldo Smith in the 23rd over.
Esterhuizen broke the shackles with a six off Ruben Trumpelmann before South Africa's hundred came up in the 23rd over. After de Zorzi reached his fifty, Esterhuizen raced away with a flurry of sixes, bringing up up his maiden ODI hundred with a maximum off Gerhard Erasmus in the 33rd over. South Africa crossed 200 in the 34th over, with the pair closing in on a 200-run partnership. But they couldn't bring up that milestone as Trumpelmann returned to dismiss Esterhuizen in the 36th over. De Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke followed soon after, leaving South Africa at 233 for 4 in the 39th over.
Dewald Brevis then took over, hammering a couple of sixes off Trumpelmann before the bowler had the last laugh. Bosch struck three maximums off Brassell in the 48th over but Namibia's bowlers fought back with quick wickets in the closing overs, with Bosch, Jason Smith, Jansen and Prenelan Subrayen falling in the last three overs. Nqobani Mokoena's six in the final over took South Africa past the 330 mark.
Namibia's chase quickly unravelled under relentless pressure from South Africa's seamers, with Jansen and Bosch sharing the first five wickets. Bosch removed Michael van Lingen for a nine-ball duck before Jansen had Malan Kruger caught for nought in the following over. Jan Frylinck then fell to Bosch for another duck, leaving Namibia 1 for 3 in the fourth over. Jansen struck again, having Louren Steenkamp caught at slip for 12, and Bosch claimed his second when Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton was caught behind for six as Namibia slumped to 35 for 5 in the 11th over.
Erasmus and Zane Green tried to steady the innings but their 27-run association ended when Green fell to Jason Smith, with Brevis taking a stunning one-handed catch at backward point. Jan Balt then joined Erasmus and the pair kept South Africa waiting. They extended the partnership past fifty, with the Namibia skipper also bringing up his half-century during the stand. The seventh wicket stand lasted nearly 100 deliveries before Balt was run out for 26, with Brevis pulling off a Jonty Rhodes as he picked up the ball at point, ran in and dived towards the stumps to run the batter out.
Erasmus fell a short while later as he chipped a catch to cover, handing debutant Mokoena his first wicket in ODI cricket. Trumpelmann and Waldo Smith shared a 38-run stand for the ninth wicket, with the former contributing 28 in the partnership, including a six and two fours in an over off Nqabayomzi Peter. Jansen ended the stand with his fourth wicket, trapping Waldo Smith in front before Bosch returned to end Trumpelmann's stay and pick up his third wicket as Namibia's reply came to an end in the 42nd over.
Brief scores: South Africa 335/9 in 50 overs (Connor Esterhuizen 119, Tony de Zorzi 79; Jack Brassell 4-64) beat Namibia 178 in 41.5 overs (Gerhard Erasmus 68; Duan Jansen 4-31, Eathan Bosch 3-27) by 157 runs.