Namibia won the toss and opted to field first, hoping their decision pays off in another crucial encounter against South Africa.
The hosts began the tournament on a high, defeating South Africa by 18 runs in the opening match. Jan Frylinck was the star of that contest, scoring 60 as Namibia posted 163 before restricting their opponents to secure a memorable victory.
However, Namibia’s campaign has since lost momentum. They suffered a defeat against Zimbabwe in their previous outing on Thursday, leaving them with no room for error in the final league game.
South Africa, meanwhile, have responded impressively after their opening setback. They bounced back with two convincing victories over Zimbabwe, including a 43-run win in their most recent match, and will now look to complete their turnaround by sealing a place in the final.
Namibia need another upset
Gerhard Erasmus’ side know exactly what is at stake. A victory over South Africa will send Namibia through to Sunday’s final, where they will face South Africa again.
The hosts will draw confidence from their opening-match performance, when they produced a disciplined bowling effort to defend a competitive total. Frylinck’s contribution with the bat was crucial on that occasion, and Namibia will hope their experienced players can once again rise to the occasion.
Captain Erasmus has been among Namibia’s leading performers in the tournament, while Frylinck and the rest of the top order will have the responsibility of providing a solid platform.
Brevis leads South Africa’s charge
South Africa have several players in excellent form, with Dewald Brevis standing out as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.
Brevis has accumulated 191 runs from three innings, while Lhuan-dre Pretorius has contributed 125 runs. Namibia will need to find a way to contain the pair if they are to pull off another upset.
The South African bowling attack has also delivered consistently. Duan Jansen and Brad Evans have taken eight wickets each, while Bjorn Fortuin is close behind with seven scalps.
