Proteas crush Zimbabwe to win T20 tri-series in Namibia
The SA team combined well, with their batters and bowlers making valuable contributions.
South Africa concluded their T20 International tri-series campaign in Windhoek with a resounding 48-run victory over Zimbabwe. Set a target of 206 runs to win, Zimbabwe struggled to make an impact, as their specialist batters faltered under pressure. The team found themselves in serious trouble at 81/8 in the 12th over, but all-rounder Brad Evans and tail-ender Kundai Matigimu managed to stabilize the innings with a 52-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
However, Matigimu was dismissed in the 17th over after scoring 19 runs off 11 balls, and Zimbabwe's fight for a losing cause came to an end. Evans remained unbeaten, smashing 56 runs off 31 balls – his first T20 half-century at any level – but his efforts were not enough to secure a win. Zimbabwe were dismissed for 157 in the 18th over of their innings.
Captain Bjorn Fortuin was the standout bowler for South Africa, claiming 3/24, while speedster Duan Jansen continued his impressive form on his first international tour, taking 3/38. Earlier in the match, opener Connor Esterhuizen and Jordan Hermann shared a solid 84 runs for the first wicket, but Esterhuizen was caught at cover by Ben Curran off 32 runs off 23 deliveries, and Hermann was caught by Ryan Burl off a Brad Evans delivery.
Despite the early setbacks, the Proteas' top-order and middle-order batters delivered as they reached 205/5 from their 20 overs, with contributions from Dewald Brevis (32), Rubin Hermann (27) and Jansen (23 not out). South Africa will now face Namibia in a three-match ODI series starting on Wednesday.
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