South Africa Emerging XI suffers a T20 loss against Namibia

Cricket bat (Photo by Hamish Blair / Getty Images)

A sensational century by JJ Smit helped Namibia to a 1-1 draw in the T20 series against the up-and-coming men in South Africa on Saturday thanks to a nice win with five wickets in the second game at the Wanderers in Windhoek.

The all-rounder looted a remarkable 10 sixes and three fours and ended up unbeaten with 103 of 45 deliveries when the hosts chased an imposing 191-run target with the last ball of an exciting chase.

An entertaining game ended, which changed from the arrival of the dangerous Smit in the middle to single-handedly send the three-game sequence into a decision on Sunday.

For the South Africans there was half a century of Grant Roelofsen (52 out of 31 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) and Jonathan Bird (74 * out of 37 balls, 4 fours, 5 sixes), while Kabelo Sekhukhune contributed with 37.

After winning the throw and bowling, the hosts may have ruined their decision after Malibongwe Maketa’s protégés put in a strong performance with the bat.

Roelofsen and Sekhukhune put in 86 for the opening wicket before they both fell. But Bird then cut loose when he recorded his first T20 50 during a 63 worth booth with Matthew Breetzke, 18.

The away team eventually ended up at 190 for five.

Delano Potgieter (2/37) then claimed two out of three early wickets to keep the Eagles in trouble on 36 for three in 5.2 overs.

But Smit rebuilt the innings during a 101-run stand on the fourth wicket with captain Gerhard Erasmus, 38, before holding his nerve to lead his team to a memorable win.

Roster of aspiring men in South Africa: Stefan Tait, Thando Ntini, Grant Roelofsen, Joshua Richards, Jonathan Bird, Jason Smith, Tshepo Ntuli, Kabelo Sekhukhune, Lifa Ntanzi, Matthew Breetzke, Dayyaan Galiem, Bryce Parsons, Sinethemba Qeshile, Wandile Makwetu, Gregory Mahlokwana, Delano Potgieter.

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