South Africa defeated Zimbabwe handily in the final to win the T20I Tri-Series in Windhoek, Namibia. Despite missing injured openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Andile Simelane, the Proteas scored 205/5 before dismissing the Chevrons in the 18th over to win the trophy.
After choosing to bat first, South Africa amassed a daunting 205/5 in 20 overs thanks to a swift half-century from Jordan Hermann and a 23-ball 32 from Dewald Brevis. Zimbabwe was bowled out for 157 in 18 overs after their top order collapsed under strain.
After starting the competition with consecutive knocks of 75, Dewald Brevis partnered Rubin Hermann in the centre, and the two maintained a strong scoring pace. The pair scored 17 runs in the fifteenth over, increasing the run rate to 10 runs per over and giving the impression that 200 would soon be reached.
In the 17th over, Evans struck once more, dismissing Brevis for 32. Shortly after, Nyamhuri removed Rubin Hermann for 27. The total reached 205/5 thanks to the South African bottom order’s steadfast performance. With 25 runs from four overs, Muzarabani was the most economical bowler, followed by Nyamhuri with 2/51 and Evans with 2/36.
A caught-behind dismissal off Bosch was reversed due to a no-ball, giving captain Sikandar Raza an early reprieve. But Bjorn Fortuin, the captain of South Africa, quickly put a stop to his defiance by taking his wicket, throwing Zimbabwe’s chase into disarray.
Evans led a valiant late comeback, hitting his first T20I fifty and contributing 52 for the ninth wicket alongside Kundai Matigimu. Zimbabwe’s batting folded in the eighteenth over, as Kwena Maphaka ultimately ended the partnership. As South Africa trounced Zimbabwe for the third time in the previous eight days, Jansen finished as the top seamer with 3-38, while Bosch claimed 2-22.
With a valiant ninth-wicket partnership of 52 runs off 28 balls, Brad Evans and Kundai Matigimu gave Zimbabwe some much-needed optimism. Matigimu was fired by Kwena Maphaka, ending the collaboration. Zimbabwe’s innings finished in the 18th over, but Evans persisted to reach his first T20I fifty with a six. South Africa won a convincing victory, with Bosch finishing with 2/22 and Jansen with 3/38.
