• South Africa cruised to victory in Tri-Series opener with a clinical all-round performance against Zimbabwe.

  • Dewald Brevis crowned player of the match for his sensational knock.

Fans erupt as Dewald Brevis’ fireworks power South Africa to comprehensive win against Zimbabwe in the T20I tri-series opener
ZIM vs SA (Image Source: X)

Table of Contents

South Africa came out on top in the opening match of the Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series with a dominant performance against the hosts. The Proteas continued their brilliant run, securing victory by 5 with more than four overs to spare.

Sikandar Raza battles South Africa’s disciplined bowling 

After winning the toss, South African skipper Rassie van der Dussen opted to bowl first. Zimbabwe had a slow start, with opener Wessly Madhevere falling in unfortunate fashion—hit wicket—in the third over. Youngster Brian Bennett showed some resistance with a fighting knock of 30 but was dismissed while attempting a big shot over the ropes. Meanwhile, captain Sikandar Raza led from the front, top-scoring with a brilliant half-century. The right-hander batted with intent, scoring 54 off 38 deliveries and guiding Zimbabwe past the 140-run mark.

With the ball, it was an excellent outing for the Proteas. Their disciplined bowling kept the Zimbabwean batters in check throughout the innings. Maintaining tight lines and lengths, South Africa never allowed the run rate to climb above par. Spinner George Linde stood out with an exceptional spell, picking up 3 wickets for just 10 runs in his 3 overs. Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Nqabayomzi Peter also contributed with a wicket each.

Dewald Brevis and Rubin Hermann guides proteas in the chase 

Chasing a slim target of 142 runs, South Africa had a poor start with opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius dismissed on the first ball, followed by Reeza Hendricks and skipper der Dussen, reducing them to 39 for 3. But young sensation Dewald Dewald once again impressed with his fiery T20. Brevis’ innings of 41 runs in just 17 balls took the game away from Zimbabwe. He was well complemented by Rubin Hermann, who scored 45 runs. In the end Corbin Bosch guided his side to victory.

It was a fighting display from the Zimbabwean bowlers in Harare as they managed to put the Proteas under pressure. They removed half of the South African side with disciplined bowling, with Richard Ngarava leading the charge by claiming 3 key wickets, including both openers. Trevor Gwandu also chipped in with two crucial wickets, helping his side stay in the contest.

Also READ: Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series 2025: Harare Sports Club Pitch Report, T20 Stats and Records

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Also READ: New Zealand announce Finn Allen’s replacement amid big squad overhaul for Zimbabwe T20I tri-series

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About the Author:
VARUN VERMA
Varun Verma is a dedicated cricket enthusiast with a flair for storytelling and in-depth analysis. Combining a deep knowledge of the sport with a talent for engaging content creation, he brings the drama and thrill of the game to life for fans around the world. Drawing inspiration from the grit and passion of players like Ben Stokes, Varun aspires to one day experience the electrifying atmosphere of a Test match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. He can be reached at varun.verma@crickettimes.com and followed on LinkedIn and X.