South Africa clinch tri-series with clinical win over Zimbabwe

South Africa claimed a thumping win in the final of the T20I Tri-Series in Namibia, beating Zimbabwe by 48 runs at Windhoek on Sunday (September 6). Having piled on 205 for 5, the Proteas bundled their opponents out for 157.

Winning the toss and batting first, Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen got off to a blazing start, taking three boundaries off Wesley Madhevere in the opening over. The opening batters then struck a six each off Newman Nyamhuri in the third over before taking down Kundai Matigimu for 20 runs in the sixth. Jordan Hermann brought up his maiden T20I fifty in the eighth over but the 84-run opening stand ended when Esterhuizen holed out two balls later.

Zimbabwe fought back, dismissing Jordan Hermann in the 10th over and Tony de Zorzi in the 13th but the onslaught was sustained by Dewald Brevis and Rubin Herman who shared a crucial 47-run stand. While they both fell in the space of four balls, Duan Jansen powered South Africa past 200 with a 14-ball 23-run cameo.

In reply, Zimbabwe endured a torrid start, crumbling to 46 for 4 by the end of the Powerplay. A wicket fell in each of the first four overs starting with Ben Curran, who was the first to depart after edging behind for a golden duck. Brian Bennett was also out caught behind while attempting a scoop in the following over. Innocent Kaia then holed out in the third over having just been dropped three balls earlier before Wesley Madhevere found deep-square leg attempting a pull in the fourth. Both opening bowlers, Eathan Bosch and Duan Jansen, claimed two wickets apiece in the Powerplay.

Brief hopes of a recovery emerged with Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl at the crease but their partnership was cut short for 27 when Bjorn Fortuin bowled the latter in the eighth over. The result was all but decided when Raza also fell to Fortuin two overs later. Brad Evans had some fun, striking four fours and four sixes en route to his maiden T20I fifty but was left stranded with Zimbabwe being bowled out for 157 in 18 overs.

Brief Scores: South Africa 205/5 in 20 overs (Jordan Hermann 53, Dewald Brevis 32; Brad Evans 2-36, Newman Nyamhuri 2-51) beat Zimbabwe 157 all-out in 18 overs (Brad Evans 56*; Bjorn Fortuin 3-24, Duan Jansen 3-38) by 48 runs.