Connor Esterhuizen hits maiden ODI century as Proteas wrap up series victory

By SABC Sport
11th September 2026

Connor Esterhuizen struck his maiden ODI century as the Proteas beat Namibia by 157 runs in the second match in Windhoek, with the visitors wrapping up a series victory with a game to spare.

Playing in just his second ODI after making his debut in the series opener, Esterhuizen scored 119 from 110 balls while Tony de Zorzi continued his good form with 79 as the Proteas ammased a total of 335-9 in 50 overs.

Namibia, who won the toss and elected bowl, took seven overs to make the breakthrough when the getting the wicket of first-game centurion Jordan Hermann for 20.

Esterhuizen then combined with De Zorzi for partnership of 183 for the second wickets with the former bringing up his hundred in exactly 100 balls, that included eight fours and six sixes.

De Zorzi struck his second consecutive fifty in the series but once again failed to convert his impressive start as the left-handed number 3 was dismissed for 79 off 87 deliveries.

With a brilliant platform paid, Dewald Brevis looked to up the tempo and made his way to 37 off 30 balls but was holed out, miscuing a full-toss bowled by left-arm seamer Ruben Trumpelmann.

Eathan Bosch then hit four sixes in a 13-ball 29 to lift the Proteas past the 330-run mark, that will eventually be an insurmountable target for the Associate side.

Namibia got off to the worst possible start pursuit of the total, losing their opening six wickets with just 59 runs on the scoreboard nad the game virtually in the bag for the visitors.

Duan Jansen was destroyer-in-chief for the Proteas as the left-arm paceman finished with figures of 4-31 in nine overs while Bosch had a fine all-round game after picking up 3-27.

Home captain Gerhard Erasmus put up some resistance with the bat, hitting 68 but was dismissed by debutant seamer Nqobani Mokoena (1-31) as the Proteas wrapped up a comprehensive win.