Connor Esterhuizen struck his maiden ODI century before Duan Jansen and Eathan Bosch ripped through Namibia’s batting order as South Africa claimed a commanding 157-run victory in the second ODI in Windhoek.

Esterhuizen scored 119 off 110 balls to anchor South Africa’s 335/9 before Jansen claimed four wickets and Bosch three as Namibia were bowled out for 178 in 41.5 overs. The victory gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Namibia elected to bowl first and made an early breakthrough when Jordan Hermann, fresh from his 150 on ODI debut in the opening match, was dismissed for 20.

That brought Tony de Zorzi together with Esterhuizen, and the pair took control of the innings with a substantial second-wicket partnership.

After a relatively patient start, Esterhuizen grew into his innings while de Zorzi provided strong support at the other end. Their partnership passed 50, 100 and eventually 150 as South Africa moved from 31/1 to 214/2.

Esterhuizen reached his half-century from 73 balls before accelerating considerably, needing only another 27 deliveries to move from 50 to his maiden ODI hundred. His century came from exactly 100 balls and included seven fours and five sixes.

De Zorzi reached his own half-century from 58 deliveries as the pair put South Africa firmly in control.

Their 183-run partnership was eventually broken in the 36th over when Esterhuizen was dismissed for 119 from 110 balls, having struck eight fours and six sixes.

De Zorzi followed shortly afterwards for 79 from 87 balls, leaving South Africa 231/3 after 37.3 overs. Matthew Breetzke made four before his dismissal reduced the visitors to 233/4.

Dewald Brevis then helped rebuild the momentum alongside Jason Smith. Brevis struck three sixes in his 37 from 30 balls before falling in the 46th over.

The most destructive late contribution, however, came from Bosch.

Bosch smashed 29 from just 13 deliveries, hitting four sixes at a strike rate of 223.07 as South Africa pushed beyond 300. Smith contributed 18, while Nqobani Mokoena finished unbeaten on seven from three balls as the Proteas closed on 335/9.

Jack Brassell was Namibia’s most successful bowler with 4/64 from his 10 overs, while Ruben Trumpelmann and Jan Balt claimed two wickets each.

Namibia’s chase was effectively derailed inside the opening four overs.

Bosch removed Michael van Lingen for a nine-ball duck before Jansen dismissed Malan Kruger for another duck. Bosch then struck again when Jan Frylinck was caught at fine leg, leaving Namibia in extraordinary trouble at 1/3.

Jansen added the wicket of Louren Steenkamp for 12 as Namibia slipped to 20/4 before removing Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton for six to make it 32/5.

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus was left with the task of attempting to rescue the innings.

Erasmus battled his way to a half-century from 58 deliveries and found some support from Zane Green before Jason Smith claimed his first ODI wicket in spectacular fashion.

Green cut Smith towards backward point, where Brevis produced a diving one-handed catch to dismiss him for 11 and leave Namibia 59/6.

Erasmus and Jan Balt then provided Namibia’s first substantial resistance of the innings, adding 71 for the seventh wicket.

Their partnership ended through another piece of brilliance from Brevis. With Erasmus attempting a quick single, Brevis attacked the ball from backward point and broke the stumps with Balt short of his ground, ending his innings on 26.

Erasmus’ resistance ended soon afterwards when he chipped Nqobani Mokoena to substitute fielder Rubin Hermann at extra cover. The Namibia captain top-scored with 68 from 84 deliveries, including six fours and a six.

Ruben Trumpelmann provided some late hitting with 30 from 27 balls, but the required target had long since moved beyond Namibia’s reach.

Jansen trapped Waldo Smith lbw for his fourth wicket before Bosch bowled Trumpelmann to complete the victory, Namibia dismissed for 178 in 41.5 overs.

Jansen finished with outstanding figures of 4/31 from nine overs, including two maidens, while Bosch took 3/27 from 7.5 overs. Mokoena and Jason Smith claimed a wicket apiece.

The 157-run victory gives South Africa a 2-0 lead and secures the three-match ODI series with one match remaining.

After Jordan Hermann’s debut century set up victory in the opening ODI, it was Esterhuizen’s turn to lead the batting effort in the second, while South Africa’s young pace attack ensured Namibia were never able to seriously threaten another imposing total.