Windhoek knows how to put on a good thunderstorm, but lightning couldn’t strike thrice in the same place, surely? The first bolt hit in October last year, when Namibia beat South Africa in a men’s T20I at the Namibia Cricket Ground. The same thing happened in a tri-series game at the same ground on Friday. Would Zimbabwe also pluck the Proteas there on Saturday?

No. With Duan Jansen and Prenelan Subrayen taking five wickets between them to limit Zimbabwe to 144/8, and Dewald Brevis hitting the first of his six sixes in his 32-ball 75 not out off the first delivery he faced, South Africa won by seven wickets with 6.2 overs to spare.

Most importantly, from the perspective of the wider nation, the South Africans got the job done 24 minutes before the Springboks kicked off against the All Blacks in Cape Town. Not that the wider nation could watch the cricket.

SuperSport sent out a statement before the match saying the series would “no longer be broadcast” on the network “due to major technical issues”. That followed the plug being pulled during Friday’s match, which was marred by repeatedly frozen or pixelated footage. How viewers in India were able to watch the same broadcast, untroubled, on streaming platform Fancode went unanswered.

That was a pity, because South Africans would have enjoyed seeing Eathan Bosch being capped by his brother, Corbin Bosch — who wore their father Tertius Bosch’s 1992 World Cup shirt as he sat in the stands next to his mother Karen-Anne Bosch.

Brian Bennett and Ben Curran clipped 45 runs off the first five overs. But Curran charged the first ball of the sixth, a short delivery from Jansen, and was stunningly caught by Tony de Zorzi diving backward at mid-on.

Dion Myers helped Bennett add 31 off 30 for the second wicket and Wessly Madhevere put on 43 off 23 for the sixth. But there was little else of substance from Zimbabwe, who lost their eight wickets for 99.

Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Jordan Hermann started South Africa’s reply with a stand of 32 off 20. Any hope of a contest ensuing was snuffed out when Brevis walked to the middle after Pretorius spliced a catch to mid-on off Brad Evans in the fourth. Brevis took control in impressive style, reaching 50 off 24 and hitting more than 85% of his runs in fours and sixes.

“Enjoy the rugby,” the stadium announcer told the crowd when South Africa were five runs away from winning. Two singles later, Brevis outside edged Evans for four to decide the issue.

With that South Africa avoided the ignominy of losing to both of their neighbours. It’s true that Shukri Conrad picked an experimental squad for the tournament — as he should have given the calibre of the opposition. It’s also true that, even though they are ICC full members, Zimbabwe are minnows. So much so that on Saturday’s evidence Namibia should have the beating of their supposed betters when the teams meet on Monday.

But another loss to a team South Africa should beat any day of the week, whatever XI they send into the fray, would have raised an awkward alarm. At least Brevis, Jansen, Subrayen and the rest were indeed able to enjoy the rugby.