By Anas Ahmed 
Frylinck turns the game with explosive knock
Namibia finished their tour on a high with a 28-run victory over Zimbabwe in the 3rd T20I at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. The star of the day was Jan Frylinck, who produced a career-best 77 off just 31 balls, an innings laced with 8 fours and 6 sixes, striking at an astonishing 248.38.
His early assault ensured Namibia raced to 85 in the Powerplay, setting the tone for a commanding total. Contributions from Ruben Trumpelmann (46 off 24) and Alexander Busing-Volschenk (20 off 11) helped Namibia push their score to 204/7 in 20 overs.
Zimbabwe fight but fall short
Chasing 205 was always going to be a stiff task, and Zimbabwe’s reply started poorly. The top order crumbled inside six overs, leaving them reeling at 44/4.
But senior man Sean Williams stood tall. His magnificent 77 off 45 balls, decorated with 10 boundaries and 2 sixes, gave Zimbabwe hope. Ryan Burl (32 off 24) added useful support, but the required rate kept climbing.
Once Williams fell in the 18th over, Zimbabwe’s chase unraveled quickly. They were eventually bowled out for 176 in 19.5 overs, falling 28 runs short.
Namibia’s bowlers close it out
The Namibian attack responded superbly under pressure. JJ Smit led the way with 4/29, striking crucial blows in the middle overs to derail Zimbabwe’s momentum. Trumpelmann (2/39) and Gerhard Erasmus (2/39) provided excellent support, while Frylinck’s batting heroics earlier made the difference.
Despite Zimbabwe’s defeat, Brian Bennett, who scored 136 runs in the series, was named Player of the Series, highlighting his consistency at the top of the order.
Series recap
Zimbabwe won the three-match series 2-1, but Namibia’s performance in the final game proved they remain a dangerous unit in the T20I circuit. Frylinck’s innings will be remembered as one of the most destructive knocks played in Bulawayo, while Williams’ resistance showed Zimbabwe’s depth in batting even under scoreboard pressure.
Brief Scores
Namibia: 204/7 in 20 overs (Jan Frylinck 77, Ruben Trumpelmann 46; Sikandar Raza 3/25)
Zimbabwe: 176 in 19.5 overs (Sean Williams 77, Ryan Burl 32; JJ Smit 4/29, Trumpelmann 2/39)
Result: Namibia won by 28 runs
Player of the Match: Jan Frylinck (77 off 31)
Player of the Series: Brian Bennett (136 runs)
Tim Douglas