Brevis 75 Not Out Takes South Africa Top In Windhoek Tri-Series

Dewald Brevis made 75 not out from 32 balls as South Africa beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the Windhoek tri-series on 29 August. Zimbabwe posted 144 for 8. South Africa answered with 146 for 3 and finished with 38 balls to spare. It was South Africa's first win of the tournament, a day after Namibia had beaten them by 18 runs at the same ground.

All seven matches of this tri-series are being played at the Namibia Cricket Ground. The ICC has South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia meeting twice each in a league, with the top two going through to a final on 6 September.

Zimbabwe stall after the opening stand

Ben Curran hit 24 from 12 balls at the top. Sowetan put the opening stand at 45. Then Zimbabwe slowed. Brian Bennett made 34 from 35 balls, and a strike rate under a run a ball from the top order tells its own story about the middle overs. The total was 144 for 8.

• Brian Bennett 34 from 35 balls
• Ben Curran 24 from 12 balls
• Duan Jansen 3 for 45 from four overs
• Prenelan Subrayen 2 for 27 from four overs

Jansen took the most wickets and conceded the most runs. Subrayen was the control. Zimbabwe scored at just over seven an over and never went past it. On this ground the previous night, Namibia had made 163.

Brevis in the chase

The target was 145. Brevis hit seven fours and six sixes. He reached 75 not out from 32 balls and was there when it ended, with the innings closed inside 14 overs. No other South Africa batter was needed for long.

It was Brevis's second consecutive half century of the series. He had also made 75 in the defeat by Namibia the previous evening, when South Africa fell 18 short. The Citizen quoted him afterwards: "It's great to get a win. The boys showed improvement and it's great to see. I'm enjoying it... it's an amazing place to play cricket."

The table after two matches

South Africa and Namibia both have two points. Zimbabwe have none. The Citizen and Geo Super both placed South Africa top of the table after this result, which on equal points is a net run rate call, and a 38-ball win is worth a lot of run rate.

Namibia play Zimbabwe on 31 August. South Africa are next in action against Zimbabwe on 1 September. Four league matches remain before the final.

Windhoek's 2027 role

The three sides in this tri-series are the co-hosts of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, the first time the tournament returns to Africa since 2003. The Namibia Cricket Ground staged matches at the ICC Men's Under 19 Cricket World Cup earlier in 2026.

That is the reason a full member side is playing a ten-day tournament in Namibia in August. The ground is being used, its staff are being tested and two Full Members are being asked to travel to it. Namibia beat one of them on the opening night.