Zimbabwe edged past Namibia by five runs in the thrilling fourth match of the T20I tri-series in Windhoek. After being invited to bat first, Brian Bennett and Ben Curran gave Zimbabwe a solid start, adding 64 runs for the first wicket during the powerplay. However, Zimbabwe then lost six quick wickets in the next six overs and managed to add only 37 runs.

Zimbabwe appeared to be in trouble at 101 for 6, but they recovered brilliantly to post 195 for 6. Ryan Burl and Brad Evans produced a record seventh-wicket partnership of 94 runs for Zimbabwe, helping the team finish at 195/6 in 20 overs.

In reply, Namibia were struggling at 76/6 after 11.1 overs. However, Zane Green and Alexander Busing-Volschenk then added a quickfire 110 runs for the seventh wicket and almost pulled off a stunning victory.

Namibia needed 16 runs from the final over. Evans was given the responsibility of defending the target, but the drama increased immediately when his first delivery was called a no-ball. Busing-Volschenk then completed his half-century from the first legal delivery of the over. Green had already reached 54 and was looking to finish the chase. However, Zimbabwe finally found a breakthrough when Green attempted to take two runs and was run out by a direct hit from Sikandar Raza.

Busing-Volschenk continued to attack. He drove Evans down the ground for four, leaving Namibia needing six runs from three balls. Then, a dramatic twist turned the match in Zimbabwe's favour. Busing-Volschenk was caught behind by Tadiwanashe Marumani, who completed a superb one-handed diving catch. Bernard Scholtz was then run out at the non-striker's end after hesitating over whether to attempt a single.

With Namibia's last batter at the crease, Evans bowled Jack Brassell with the final delivery. Zimbabwe completed a team hat-trick and escaped with a thrilling five-run victory.

With this win, Zimbabwe remain in contention for a place in the final. However, they now have less than 24 hours to recover before facing South Africa on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe make a strong start before sudden collapse

Zimbabwe appeared to be heading towards a big total when Brian Bennett and Ben Curran put together an opening partnership of 64 runs. The collapse began on the final ball of the powerplay. Bennett attempted to pull JJ Smith but was caught at deep backward square.

Namibia then struck repeatedly. In the next over, Bernard Scholtz beat Dion Myers' outside edge and bowled him. One over later, Sikandar Raza top-edged a shot off Gerhard Erasmus towards deep square leg.

Curran soon became the next victim. Max Heingo deceived him with a slower delivery and ended his innings. Wessly Madhevere then hit Erasmus directly to the long-on fielder. Zimbabwe had suddenly lost their way. They collapsed from 64 without loss to 79 for 5 and were struggling to build a competitive total.

Burl and Evans rescue Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe were in serious trouble at 101 for 6 after 12 overs. At that stage, even reaching 160 looked difficult. However, Zimbabwe still had batting depth, and sending Evans in at No. 8 proved to be an important decision. Evans joined Burl, who was already set at the other end. The two batters gradually changed the momentum of the innings. Burl opened his boundary account by cutting a short and wide delivery from Heingo for four.

Evans then attacked Scholtz and hit him for two consecutive sixes. The momentum quickly shifted towards Zimbabwe. The pair saved their best for the final over. Zimbabwe had reached 175, with both batters on 37. Burl then launched Erasmus over long-on for six. He followed it with a four through long-off and another boundary through the covers to complete his fifty.

He finished the over with another four behind square, taking 20 runs from it. The unbeaten 94-run partnership lifted Zimbabwe to 195 for 6. It was a new seventh-wicket partnership record for Zimbabwe in T20Is. At that point, Zimbabwe would have expected the total to be enough.

Zimbabwe recover after two early chances go down

Zimbabwe had an opportunity to make an early breakthrough when Louren Steenkamp, on one run, struck Newman Nyamhuri hard towards short cover. Wessly Madhevere could not hold the catch. Two deliveries later, Nyamhuri bowled another short delivery and Jan Frylinck attempted the pull. He found deep square leg, where Curran moved forward to take the catch but failed to complete it.

Zimbabwe, however, quickly recovered from those missed opportunities. Steenkamp eventually edged a short slower delivery from Blessing Muzarabani towards Madhevere, who took the catch. Erasmus then hooked Evans towards deep backward square. Bennett held on to another good low catch.

Zimbabwe's fielding improved considerably from that point. Burl took a difficult skier after JJ Smit attempted to clear the boundary off Bennett. Curran then made up for his earlier dropped catch. At point, he used a reverse-cup technique to take Frylinck's attempted lofted shot and dismissed the Namibia opener for 22.

Curran produced another excellent piece of fielding soon afterwards. He completed a one-handed catch to remove another batter and leave Namibia struggling at 76 for 6 at the start of the 12th over. Yet the match was far from over.

Green and Busing-Volschenk launch Namibia's comeback

Namibia looked almost out of the contest at 76/6. However, 21-year-old Busing-Volschenk had other ideas. He attacked Wellington Masakadza immediately after arriving at the crease. He charged down the pitch and smashed the spinner over his head for six. He repeated the attack and sent another delivery out of the ground.

One of the biggest shots of his innings came against Raza, when Busing-Volschenk struck the ball into the grass banks. He then pulled Evans over deep midwicket for another six. Meanwhile, Green quietly built his innings at the other end. He had reached 22 from 16 balls before suddenly accelerating.

Green smashed 17 runs from Nyamhuri's final over of the 18th. His assault included a six and two fours. He continued the attack against Muzarabani in the 19th over, scoring 15 of the 17 runs conceded. One of those boundaries took him to his half-century.

Namibia entered the final over needing only 16 runs, with Green and Busing-Volschenk threatening to complete an extraordinary chase.

Zimbabwe escape from a stunning upset

The final over produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the match. Evans' first delivery was a no-ball because Zimbabwe had too many fielders outside the permitted circle. Busing-Volschenk then brought up his fifty from the first legal delivery.

Green was already on 54 and looked determined to finish the chase. However, his attempt to push for a second run ended with Raza producing a direct hit and running him out. Busing-Volschenk kept Namibia alive with another boundary, leaving six runs required from three balls.

But Marumani then produced a spectacular one-handed catch behind the stumps to dismiss Busing-Volschenk. The pressure became unbearable for Namibia. Scholtz was run out at the non-striker's end after uncertainty over whether to take a run.

Finally, Brassell was bowled by Evans from the last ball. Zimbabwe had completed a team hat-trick and sealed a victory that had looked almost certain to slip away. The win keeps all three teams level on two points, but Zimbabwe will have little time to celebrate as they face South Africa in less than a day.