Windhoek- Innocent Kaia struck a career-best 72 for Zimbabwe in a five-wicket victory over hosts Namibia in a Twenty20 tri-series match on Thursday.
Put in to bat in Windhoek, Namibia made 156-6, thanks mainly to an unbeaten 88 from captain Gerhard Erasmus.
Zimbabwe reached 159-5 with 11 balls remaining as they kept their hopes of making the final alive.
Kaia, batting at No.3, had fruitful partnerships of 61 with Brian Bennett and 54 with captain Sikandar Raza as Zimbabwe completed a double over Namibia after a five-run win on Monday.
Kaia struck three sixes and eight fours from 42 balls before his mistimed pull off a Jack Brassell delivery was caught by Erasmus at mid on.
“It is great contributing significantly to a victory. I planned to be aggressive and take on the Namibian bowlers. It paid off,” player-of-the-match award winner Kaia told reporters.
Like Kaia, Erasmus struck three sixes and eight fours in his knock. His 83-run fourth-wicket stand with Alexander Busing-Volschenk (29) was the highlight of the innings.
Reuters