Proteas kick off T20I tri-series campaign with victory against hosts Zimbabwe
14th July 2025
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The Proteas started their T20I series tri-series campaign with a five-wicket victory against host nation Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday.
Chasing a target of 142, debutant Rubin Hermann struck 45 off 37 balls while Dewald Brevis blitzed 41 from just 17 deliveries as the Proteas reached the target with more than four overs to spare.
Earlier, the visitors restricted Zimbabwe to a total of 141-6 in their 20 overs with spinner George Linde finishing with figures of 3-10 in three overs.
After Proteas captain Rassie van der Dussen had won the toss and elected to field, paceman Lungi Ngidi set the tone for the innings with the early wicket of opener Wessly Madhevere.
Ngidi, who missed the recent Test series victory against the hosts in Bulawayo, returned outstanding figures of 1-15 in his four overs while there was a wicket apiece for fellow quick Nandre Burger (1-22) and spinner Nqabayomzi Peter (1-22).
Home skipper Sikandar Raza held his team's innings together with an unbeaten 54 off 38 balls while Brian Bennett (30) and Ryan Burl (29) made decent contributions to stitch together a moderate total.
The Proteas' run-chase did not get off to the best of starts with another debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius dismissed in the first over for a duck, caught and bowled by seamer Richard Ngarava (3-35).
The tourists then lost Reeza Hendricks (11) and Van der Dussen (17) to finish the powerplay on 38-3 and with some work to do for the victory.
Hermann and Brevis settled any nerves though as the pair added a quick-fire 72 off just 37 balls for the fourth wicket to take the Proteas to the brink of victory.
Both lost their wickets close to the end, but a third debutant, Corbin Bosch (23 not out), and Linde (3 not out) took South Africa over the line with the winning runs coming off the penultimate ball of the 16th over.
The second clash of the T20I tri-series takes place in Harare on Wednesday when the Proteas will be up against New Zealand.
