ZIM vs SA | Twitter lauds Proteas as they confirm place in tri-series finale with Zimbabwe thumping

Yesterday at 7:51 PM

South Africa ended Zimbabwe’s final hopes in the latter's home tri-series with a comfortable seven-wicket win at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday. Rassie van der Dussen and Rubin Hermann starred with half-centuries after the visitors had managed to restrict the Chevrons to 144/6.

‌South Africa won the toss and chose to bat in game number four of the T20I tri-series. The Zimbabwe batters once again struggled to get going in the powerplay as Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger stuck to the hard lengths and caused a lot of plays and misses. Though there were some instances where the hosts managed to get away a few boundaries, Corbin Bosch came into the attack with two big strikes of Wessly Madhevere and Clive Madande and restricted them to 29/2 in the first six overs. The pressure started mounting shirtly after as Zimbabwe’s best batter and skipper Sikandar Raza was dismissed after mistiming a slog sweep straight into the hands of square leg, leaving them 55/3 at the halfway stage. Desperately needing a partnership, Brian Bennet and Ryan Burl answered the call by putting on 78 runs for the fourth wicket. However, the visitors seized momentum back in the death where Ngidi knocked over Bennett in 16th over after a well-made 61 off 43 deliveries, while Burl was left stranded on 36 off 31 as the team could only manage 31 runs in the last five over and ended on a below-par score of 144/6.

South Africa's story in the powerplay was a similar one with the openers failing to time their shots. Openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Reeza Hendricks could not cause any damage as they were dismissed while attempting rash shots across the line off Titotenda Maposa. The Proteas thus ended the first six overs on a score of 33/2, with skipper Rassie van der Dussen and Rubin Hermann at the crease. The duo slowly steadied the innings thereafter and took the score to 71/2 in 10 overs. The partnership continued to cause problems as Hermann started to attack the bowlers, while Rassie rotated the strike at the other end. Though Hermann was eventually dismissed for 63, the damage was already done, and the team was in a comfortable position to chase down the total needing only 16 off the last four overs. While the South Africa skipper remains unbeaten on 52, Dewald Brevis scored the winning runs to ensure a seven-wicket win and seal a spot in the final.

50!

Oh Captain Rassie 👌🏽💚🫡

50 up.
— Mish ✌🏽 (@Mish_Sattar)

Great knock!

Maiden fifty for Rubin Hermann! Been a great knock! Two important knocks so far in this tri-series!
— Eems (@NaeemahBenjamin)

SA win!

🔥 12 Overs Gone!

South Africa: 98/2

They need 47 runs in 48 balls 🏏

🧢 At the crease:

Rassie van der Dussen – 30*(22)

Rubin Hermann – 52*(30) 💥

SA cruising in this chase!
— Cricket__Cinema (@cricket_cinima)

Maiden 50!

Rubin Hermann brings up his maiden international 50 🔥

He has stamped his mark on this series 💪🏻
— Werner (@Werries_)

Brilliant!

Hermann is going absolutely brilliant at the crease. Calm, composed and making great decisions.
— Mish ✌🏽 (@Mish_Sattar)

On fire!

Dewald Brevis is playing cricket ❤️✨
— Brevis FC (@BraveStorm17)

True!

Team Zimbabwe will always remain same vulnerable & mediocre as we see them since our childhood. 🫤
— Shubman (@Mathan4u)

well played!

Only a concussion could keep this kid away from scoring.

Brian Bennett powers on with 61 today, his 4th T20I fifty — and he’s still just 21. 💥
— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk)

Finishes!