Quick Answer
Namibia play Zimbabwe in the 5th Match (NAM vs ZIM) of the Namibia T20I Tri Series 2026 on Thursday, 3 September, at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The match starts at 5:30 PM IST, which is 2:00 PM local time in Namibia. Namibia’s likely playing 11 has Gerhard Erasmus as captain, with Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, wicketkeeper Zane Green, Alexander Volschenk, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Jack Brassell, and Max Heingo. Zimbabwe are set to field Sikandar Raza as captain, with Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Ryan Burl, Wesley Madhevere, wicketkeeper Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Newman Nyamhuri, and Kundai Matigimu.
This game is bigger than it looks on paper. Namibia sit second on the points table and Zimbabwe sit third. Only the top two teams go through to the final on 6 September, so this is close to a must win match for Zimbabwe. There is also a score to settle. Zimbabwe beat Namibia by just 5 runs in their last match, three days ago. Namibia will want to fix that at home. You can follow live scores and updates on CRIC INFO 365.
What Is the Namibia T20I Tri Series 2026?
The Namibia T20I Tri Series 2026 has three teams: Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. It started on 28 August and ends on 6 September in Windhoek. Each team plays the other two twice. The top two teams by points then meet in the final. You can check the full fixtures, live scores, and schedule on ESPNcricinfo if you want to track every game in the series.
Here is where the table stands right now:
- Namibia: 2 points from 2 matches, one win and one loss. Net Run Rate of plus 0.325.
- Zimbabwe: 2 points from 3 matches, one win and two losses. Net Run Rate of minus 1.691.
- South Africa: Have already played and beaten both Namibia and Zimbabwe at different points.
Zimbabwe have already lost twice. Another loss here would most likely end their run at the final. Namibia have the better run rate and home ground, so a win puts them in a strong spot before their last group match against South Africa on 4 September. A win for Zimbabwe, on the other hand, would keep the race wide open and set up a tense finish to the group stage over the following two days.
When and Where Is Namibia vs Zimbabwe (NAM vs ZIM), 5th Match?
- Date: Thursday, 3 September 2026
- Venue: Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
- Time: 5:30 PM IST, 2:00 PM local Namibia time, 12:00 PM GMT
- Format: T20I
- Streaming (India): FanCode
The pitch at Namibia Cricket Ground has stayed fairly even through this series. It has helped pace bowlers, and the average first innings score across the tournament has been around 137. That number matters, because it tells you this ground is not a high scoring venue. Teams that build their innings around good running between the wickets and smart bowling changes tend to do better here than teams that just try to hit sixes from ball one.
What Happened Last Time These Two Teams Played?
Namibia and Zimbabwe already met once in this series, in Match 3 on 31 August, and it was a close one. The ICC’s own match report on that thriller called it a fightback that fell just short.
Zimbabwe batted first and set Namibia a target of 196. Namibia slipped to 76 for 6 and looked out of the game. Then Zane Green (54) and Alexander Volschenk (56) came together and put on 110 runs for the 7th wicket, the highest 7th wicket stand in T20I history at that point. It beat the old record held by Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams. Namibia needed just 11 runs off the last five balls but lost four wickets in that stretch and fell 5 runs short. Zimbabwe held on to win.
After that, Zimbabwe played South Africa in Match 4 and lost by 43 runs. Sikandar Raza top scored with 45 during the chase, but Zimbabwe were bowled out for 142 while chasing 186. That loss puts real pressure on Zimbabwe going into this rematch. Two defeats in three games is not the kind of form any team wants to carry into a match that could decide their place in the final.
What Is the Head to Head Record Between Namibia and Zimbabwe?
Across their T20I history, Zimbabwe hold a small edge:
| Team | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 9 |
| Namibia | 7 |
This rivalry goes back to 2022, when Namibia became the first associate nation to beat a Full Member team in a bilateral series. Since then, Namibia have won their last two full bilateral series against Zimbabwe, both by a score of 3 to 2. So even though Zimbabwe lead the overall head to head count, Namibia have a strong recent record against them, especially at home. History and current form do not always line up, and that gap is part of what makes this match hard to call.
What Is Each Team’s Recent Form Like?
Namibia have been the more consistent side over their last five T20Is, with three wins in that stretch. Their top order has looked settled, and their bowling attack, built around Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit, has done a good job of controlling the new ball. The one weak spot has been their finishing in tight games, which is exactly what cost them in the last match against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe have had a tougher run, with four losses in their last five T20Is. Their batting has been inconsistent outside of Sikandar Raza and Brian Bennett, and their middle order has struggled to build partnerships once early wickets fall. That said, Zimbabwe have shown they can win close games under pressure, as the last match against Namibia proved, and players like Brad Evans have been in strong individual form even while the team result has not gone their way.
Who Are the Key Players to Watch in NAM vs ZIM?
Brad Evans (Zimbabwe): He has been Zimbabwe’s top performer this series, with 43 runs and 6 wickets at an economy of 8.72 across three games. He can win a match with either bat or ball.
Brian Bennett (Zimbabwe): Has scored 45 runs and taken 2 wickets so far, including a 32 run knock and figures of 2/8 in the last game against Namibia.
Gerhard Erasmus (Namibia, captain): Has 31 runs and 3 wickets in the series. He leads by example with both bat and ball.
Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe, captain): Scored 45 in the chase against South Africa and remains Zimbabwe’s most experienced batter.
Zane Green and Alexander Volschenk (Namibia): Their record breaking 110 run stand in the last game shows Namibia’s batting can hurt any bowling attack. They will want to finish the job this time and get the win.
Wesley Madhevere (Zimbabwe): Has picked up 3 wickets in the series, including a tidy spell of 3/20 against South Africa.
What Is the Predicted Playing 11 for This Match NAM vs ZIM?
The lineups below are based on CricketAddictor’s Dream11 and playing XI preview for this match, put together from each squad’s recent form and team combinations.
Namibia Possible Playing 11
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Jan Frylinck | All rounder |
| Louren Steenkamp | Batter |
| Gerhard Erasmus (c) | All rounder |
| Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | All rounder |
| Zane Green (wk) | Wicketkeeper batter |
| Alexander Volschenk | Batter |
| JJ Smit | All rounder |
| Ruben Trumpelmann | Bowler |
| Bernard Scholtz | Bowler |
| Jack Brassell | Bowler |
| Max Heingo | Bowler |
Zimbabwe Possible Playing 11
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | All rounder |
| Ben Curran | Batter |
| Innocent Kaia | Batter |
| Sikandar Raza (c) | All rounder |
| Ryan Burl | All rounder |
| Wesley Madhevere | All rounder |
| Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk) | Wicketkeeper batter |
| Brad Evans | All rounder |
| Wellington Masakadza | Bowler |
| Newman Nyamhuri | Bowler |
| Kundai Matigimu | Bowler |
Legspinner Graeme Cremer is back in the Zimbabwe squad after an arm injury. He could also get a game, depending on how the team wants to balance spin and pace on this pitch. If Zimbabwe do bring him in, the most likely player to make way would be one of the seam bowling options lower down the order, since the team management may want an extra option to slow the game down through the middle overs.
Who Could Be the Standout Fantasy Pick?
If you are picking a fantasy team or just want to know who to watch closely, a few names stand out based on this series so far. Brad Evans and Brian Bennett are the two names getting the most attention as captaincy options, since both have contributed with bat and ball across the tournament. Gerhard Erasmus and Sikandar Raza are strong vice captain choices for the same reason, as both captains have led from the front with useful all round performances.
For budget picks, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Wesley Madhevere offer good value, since both have chipped in with the ball without needing a big price tag. On the other side, a couple of names have not had much impact yet this series and are usually left out of fantasy teams for this match, since they have not had chances to bat or bowl in the games so far.
Who Is Favoured to Win This Match NAM vs ZIM?
Based on the overall head to head record, Zimbabwe go in as slight favourites, since they have won more matches between the two sides across their history and have already beaten Namibia once in this series. That said, Namibia have the edge in current form, home conditions, and a stronger Net Run Rate, and they will also have the extra motivation of avoiding back to back defeats to the same opponent on their own ground. This looks like a genuinely close contest, and the toss could end up playing a bigger role than usual given how well teams have chased at this venue.
What Is the Pitch and Weather Like in Windhoek for NAM vs ZIM?
According to Dailysports’ match preview and pitch report, conditions in Windhoek are expected to stay dry and favour the bowlers with the new ball.
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 26°C |
| Weather | Sunny and dry |
| Pitch | Fairly even |
| Best Suited To | Pace bowling |
| Average First Innings Score | Around 137 |
| Chasing Teams Win Rate | Around 60 percent |
Teams batting second have done well at this ground through the tournament. Both captains may want to bowl first if they win the toss, since the numbers clearly favour the side chasing. With clear skies expected and no rain in the forecast, there should be no interruption and a full 20 overs a side is likely for both innings.
How Can You Follow the NAM vs ZIM Match Live?
Fans in India can watch the match live on FanCode, while ball by ball scores and updates are also available online for fans who cannot access the video stream. Live scorecards, match reports, and post match analysis are also worth checking soon after the game ends, especially if you want a proper breakdown of what changed the result rather than just the final scoreline.
FAQs
When is the Namibia vs Zimbabwe (NAM vs ZIM) 5th T20I match?
It is on Thursday, 3 September 2026, at 5:30 PM IST, which is 2:00 PM local time in Namibia. The venue is the Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek.
Who is captaining each team in this match (NAM vs ZIM)?
Gerhard Erasmus captains Namibia. Sikandar Raza captains Zimbabwe.
Who won the last match between these two teams?
Zimbabwe won the earlier game on 31 August by 5 runs, defending 196 despite a record 110 run stand between Zane Green and Alexander Volschenk for Namibia.
What is the head to head record between Namibia and Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe lead overall with 9 wins to Namibia’s 7. But Namibia have won their last two full bilateral series against Zimbabwe.
Why does this match (NAM vs ZIM) matter so much?
Only the top two teams reach the final on 6 September. Namibia sit second and Zimbabwe sit third, so a loss here likely ends Zimbabwe’s chances of making the final.
Where can fans in India watch the NAM vs ZIM match live?
The Namibia T20I Tri Series 2026 is streaming live on FanCode for viewers in India.
What score has this pitch usually produced?
Around 137 in the first innings on average, with the surface generally suiting pace bowlers and teams that chase.
Who is the form player to watch on either side in NAM vs ZIM?
Brad Evans has been Zimbabwe’s standout performer with 43 runs and 6 wickets across three games, while Zane Green and Alexander Volschenk are Namibia’s key batters after their record breaking partnership in the last meeting.
Should a team bat or bowl first if they win the toss?
Based on this tournament so far, teams batting second have won around 60 percent of matches at this ground, so most captains are likely to choose to bowl first if they win the toss.
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