HARARE: South Africa continued their dominance over Zimbabwe by beating their neighbouring country by five wickets in the opening match of a Twenty20 International tri-series here at the Harare Sports Club on Monday.

New Zealand will play their first match of the tournament when they meet South Africa at the same venue on Wednesday.

Zimbabwe were restricted to 141 for six after being sent in, with captain Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 54 not out.

Both teams showed multiple changes following a two-match Test series in Bulawayo, which South Africa won comfortably.

Opening bowler Lungi Ngidi took a wicket and conceded only seven runs in a three-over opening spell.

Left-arm spinner George Linde took three for 10, including two wickets for four runs in the last over.

South Africa lost three wickets in the six-over power play against aggressive left-arm fast bowler Richard Ngarava and seamer Trevor Gwandu.

But new cap Rubin Hermann (45) and hard-hitting player of the match Dewald Brevis, who thrashed 41 off 17 balls, put on 72 for the fourth wicket to ensure a comfortable win.

South African captain Rassie van der Dussen prai­sed the two young batsmen.

“There was a little bit of pressure up front,” he said. “Losing three wickets in the power play was not ideal but their partnership was brilliant.” Brevis hit five sixes and a four in his innings, including three successive sixes off leg-spinner Ryan Burl.

Raza said Ngar­ava, who took three for 35, and Gwandu (two for 15) were outstanding.

“It was the first game of the winter [in Harare] and we weren’t sure of the wicket,” said Raza of his team’s batting performance.

“At least we know these are going to be high-scoring games.”

SCOREBOARD

ZIMBABWE:

W. Madhevere hit wicket b Ngidi 1

B. Bennett c Hendricks b Linde 30

C. Madande b Peter 8

S. Raza not out 54

R. Burl c Hermann b Burger 29

T. Musekiwa c Hendricks b Linde 9

T. Munyonga c Simelane b Linde 0

W. Masakadza not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-7, NB-1, W-1) 9

TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 141

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8 (Madhevere), 2-39 (Madande), 3-55 (Bennett), 4-121 (Burl), 5-138 (Musekiwa), 6-138 (Munyonga)

DID NOT BAT: R. Ngarava, B. Muzarabani, T. Gwandu

BOWLING: Ngidi 4-1-15-1, Burger 4-0-22-1, Bosch 4-0-36-0 (1w, 1nb), Linde 3-0-10-3, Peter 3-0-22-1, Simelane 2-0-29-0

SOUTH AFRICA:

L. D Pretorius c&b Ngarava 0

R. Hendricks b Ngarava 11

R. van der Dussen c Burl b Gwandu 16

R. Hermann b Ngarava 45

D. Brevis c Bennett b Gwandu 41

C. Bosch not out 23

G. Linde not out 3

EXTRAS (W-3) 3

TOTAL (for five wkts,15.5 overs) 142

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Pretorius), 2-17 (Hendricks), 3-38 (van der Dussen), 4-110 (Brevis), 5-130 (Hermann)

DID NOT BAT: A. Simelane, N. Peter, N. Burger, L. Ngidi

BOWLING: Ngarava 4-0-35-3 (3w), Muzarabani 3-0-22-0, Gwandu 3.1-0-15-2, Masakadza 2-0-21-0, Raza 2.4-0-24-0, Burl 1-0-25-0

RESULT: South Africa won by five wickets.

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Dewald Brevis

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025