Esterhuizen ton and Jansen-Bosch combo give Proteas crushing win

A superb century in his second ODI by Connor Esterhuizen and some penetrative fast bowling from Duan Jansen and Eathan Bosch enabled South Africa to cruise to a lopsided 157-run victory over an outclassed and outgunned Namibia in the second ODI at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek on Friday.

The victory clinched the inaugural three-match ODI series between the countries for the Proteas after their 99-run win in the first encounter on Wednesday.

The final match takes place at the same venue on Sunday.

🚨 MATCH RESULT 🚨

A dominant win yet again for #TheProteas over Namibia in Windhoek! 🇿🇦

The victory seals the ODI series 2-0 in favour of #TheProteas, with one game still to play! 💪#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/CaiaxtxiS3 — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 11, 2026

The pitch may have looked flat while Namibia were bowling as South Africa compiled 335-9 but Jansen, in particular, and Bosch showed the new strip had plenty of pace and bounce as they tore through the Namibian top order.

Michael van Lingen was the first to go in the second over, spooning Bosch into the covers where Jordan Hermann took a good diving catch.

Then it was the turn of Jansen in the next over as he induced a thick edge from Malan Kruger to a sharply lifting delivery, offering Dewald Brevis a comfortable catch at point.

Bosch grabbed his second in his next over when Jan Frylinck hooked him straight to Jason Smith at backward square leg.

With the first three batters collecting ducks, the first run off the bat only came in the fourth over with the total on one for three wickets, such was the dominance of the South African pacemen who went on to share seven wickets between them.

There was a brief interlude in which Louren Steenkamp struck the first four of the innings with a fine cover-drive.

But he went soon afterwards, edging a drive off a wide delivery from Jansen to wicketkeeper Esterhuizen who also claimed a simple catch from Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton’s leading edge off the same bowler.

Arguably the highlight of the innings, from a South African point of view, was Brevis’s breathtaking catch at backward point to give Smith his first wicket in ODIs.

The left-handed Zane Green edged a drive well wide of the fielder who flung himself to his right, clinging onto the ball with his outstretched right hand as he flew parallel to the ground.

Skipper Gerhard Erasmus (68 in 84 balls, 6x4s, 1x6), well supported by Jan Balt, at least saved Namibia’s blushes with a gritty stand of 71 after the hosts had sunk to 59-6. 

Well though they played and with valuable overs being accorded to SA’s second-string bowlers, a certain tedium set in with the result of the match long since decided.

Fortunately Bosch and Jansen returned to finish off the innings for 178 in 41.5 overs with Jansen finishing with 4-31 and Bosch 3-27.

Brevis distinguished himself in the field with two catches and a run-out in which he demolished the stumps Jonty Rhodes style.

ESTERHUIZEN POWERS SA

Earlier, player of the match Esterhuizen’s ton powered South Africa to their formidable total.

This second encounter took on a similar narrative arc to the first match on Wednesday in which South Africa compiled 348-6 after losing the toss and being put in to bat.

Once again the Proteas lost an early wicket, this time Jordan Hermann for 20 in the eighth over after his epic debut 150 in the first match.

Again the Proteas recovered royally with a second-wicket stand of 183 in 168 balls by Esterhuizen and Tony de Zorzi.

De Zorzi had helped Hermann add 190 on Wednesday while scoring 72. This time he compiled a solid 79 in 87 balls before Esterhuizen was out for an excellent 119 (110 balls, 8x4s, 6x6s) when he holed out to mid-off.

That’s A Century! 💯

Connor Esterhuizen races to a magnificent hundred, bringing up his maiden ODI century in style! 🇿🇦🙌

Shifting through the gears in sensational fashion, Connor has taken his innings to another level. ✨#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/O2yZajeF7l — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 11, 2026

Having reached 214-1 in the 36th over, South Africa would have been slightly disappointed to have only reached their final total, losing three middle-order wickets for 19 in three overs as their momentum was disrupted.

Brevis threatened mayhem with three huge sixes but, as on Wednesday, fell to a soft dismissal for 37 just when he was poised to take control.

Again, there was a brisk cameo from Bosch – this time Eathan not brother Corbin – who slammed four sixes in his 13-ball 29 to take the Proteas to their final total.

Seamer Jack Brassell was the most successful bowler for Namibia with 4-64 while Ruben Trumpelmann and offspinner Balt claimed a couple of scalps apiece. Erasmus took four catches in the deep.

Speaking after the match, South Africa’s captain, Prenelan Subrayen (who took over from the rested Bjorn Fortuin), said: “The guys really marshalled it well. Well done to Connor. He set the base and platform for the other guys.”

Namibia: Michael van Lingen, Malan Kruger, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Gerhard Erasmus (capt), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Zane Green (wk), JC Balt, Ruben Trumpelmann, Waldo Smith, Jack Brassell

South Africa: Jordan Hermann, Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Jason Smith, Eathan Bosch, Duan Jansen, Prenalen Subrayen (capt), Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena