South Africa held their nerve in a thrilling finish to beat Namibia by 11 runs, despite the hosts mounting a serious challenge in a chase of 228. Lhuan-dre Pretorius' 101 off 53 and Connor Esterhuizen's 88 off 40 had powered South Africa to 228/4, with the former becoming the youngest T20I centurion (20 years, 161 days) among full-member teams. Namibia's reply was driven by Jan Frylinck's 72 off 36 and Louren Steenkamp's brisk contribution (61 off 44) at the top.

For much of the second innings, Namibia looked capable of pulling off their highest successful chase in T20Is. Frylinck and Steenkamp put on 119 inside 11 overs, before Frylinck's dismissal gave South Africa a much-needed opening. Gerhard Erasmus kept. Namibia in the hunt with 30 off 26, while Ruben Trumpelmann's late 21 off 10 briefly raised hopes, but South Africa closed out the game by restricting Namibia to 217/3. The result also determined the finalists of the tri-series with South Africa set to face Zimbabwe on Sunday for the trophy.

Namibia made a flying start in the Powerplay, with Frylinck and Steenkamp immediately taking advantage of anything loose. The opening over, bowled by Kwena Maphaka, went for ten before Frylinck and Steenkamp continued to find boundaries. Between them, they struck three sixes and 8 fours in the Powerplay, powering Namibia to 67 for 0.

The assault continued as the openers kept the asking rate under control. Frylinck and Steenkamp reached their century stand inside 11 overs, and despite South Africa's attempts to introduce spin and vary their pace, Namibia remained ahead of the required rate. Frylinck brought up a 28-ball fifty and took his tally of 4s and 6s to 6 and 5 respectively before getting out to Andile Simelane in the 11th over.

Steenkamp and Erasmus kept the chase alive, with the former getting to a 37-ball half-century. They added 48 but the partnership came to an abrupt halt as Steenkamp retired hurt. The equation was 37 needed off the last two overs, and despite a six and a four by Ruben Trumpelmann, Namibia needed 24 in the final over, falling 12 short of it.

Earlier, South Africa's innings had begun with an equally emphatic Powerplay after they were asked to bat. Pretorius and Esterhuizen attacked from the outset, taking the score to 45/0 after four overs and then 70/0 at the end of the Powerplay. Esterhuizen was particularly destructive, striking five sixes inside the Powerplay, while Pretorius complemented him three boundaries.

The acceleration increased despite the field spreading, with Esterhuizen smashing 24 in the eighth over off Jack Brassell, having reached a 26-ball fifty with a six off the first ball of that over. Pretorius then launched a six off Erasmus and a maximum off JJ Smit, while Esterhuizen added to his boundaries tally (8 sixes and 6 fours) before getting bowled by Jan Balt.

Pretorius carried on, moving into the 70s with a six and a four off Max Heingo in the 13th over, and into the 80s with a maximum off Balt in the 16th. Although Dewald Brevis had a short outing, Rubin Hermann came up with a brisk cameo and supported Pretorius in a 41-run stand. Pretorius struck a couple of sixes off Erasmus in the final over to bring up his maiden T20I hundred as South Africa posted a sizeable total, but one that Namibia came agonisingly close to overhauling in a spirited chase.

Brief scores: South Africa 228/4 in 20 overs (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 101 off 53, Connor Esterhuizen 88; Jan Balt 2-31) beat Namibia 217/3 in 20 overs (Jan Frylinck 72 off 36, Louren Steenkamp 61 off 44; Nqobani Mokoena 2-43) by 11 runs.