Online Reporter
SOUTH Africa beat Zimbabwe in the tri-series opener at the Harare Sports Club in Harare by five wickets and 21 balls to spare yesterday.
After an all-round bowling performance restricted the hosts to 141 for 6 despite a valiant fifty from skipper Sikandar Raza, debutant Rubin Hermann (45) and Dewald Brevis (17-ball 41) eased the South Africans to a comfortable victory.
The returning Brian Bennett began the Zimbabwean innings with a boundary to third-man.
But after the openers were troubled by the pace of Nandre Burger from the other end, Wessley Madhevere fell to Lungi Ngidi due to the resulting pressure.
Ngidi followed it up in his next over with a maiden to the new batter Clive Madande. But, a couple of boundaries off the bat of Bennett helped Zimbabwe round off the PowerPlay at 34 for 1.
Madande’s misery at the crease ended after Nqaba Peter castled the stumps.
The hosts brought up the 50 in the ninth over with a rapid increase in the scoring rate required. But to their dismay, the well set Bennett holed out to deep square-leg after an attempted slog-sweep.
Raza and Ryan Burl added a crucial 66-run stand for the hosts to take them out of a spot of bother.
They were aggressive against the short deliveries and anything drifting on the pads. It continued with a 15-run over of Peter with Burl hitting a four and a six on the onside.
Raza brought up the 50-run stand with a six off Simelane and was offered a reprieve of the next ball as Brevis dropped the allrounder. Raza put away a short ball to the fence before a boundary rounded off a 19-run 17th over. Burger returned to end the partnership with the wicket of Burl that rounded off a good spell of 4-0-22-1.
Raza, moved past 50 but carnage in the last over saw the hosts lose two to end on 141 for 6.
In reply, Lhuan-dre Pretorius was dismissed for a golden duck with a pull top-edged to the bowler. Rassie van der Dussen got off the mark with a streaky boundary just to the left of the mid-on fielder Raza.
Fellow opener Reeza Hendricks scored a couple of elegant boundaries before chopping one on to the stumps. Hermann began his foray in South African colours with a pull off Richard Ngarava for six.
Van der Dussen joined the party with couple of sixes but fell in the sixth over, off Trevor Gwandu.
At 38 for 3, Hermann and Brevis had a 72-run stand in quick time. Brevis, in particular, was very aggressive from the get-go.
He began with a pull to the stands off Raza, and then hit the same bowler onto the roof of the ground.
The powerful South African then smashed three sixes off Burl along with a boundary in a 25-run 11th over.
In between, Hermann hit a hat-trick of fours off Wellington Masakadza. But Brevis fell after slicing one straight up in the air.
Hermann fell on 45 after putting his side firmly on course. Corbin Bosch chipped in a quick 12-ball 19 comprising three boundaries as South Africa began with a win.
Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 141/6 in 20 overs (Sikandar Raza 54, Brian Bennett 30; George Linde 3-10, Lungi Ngidi 1-15) lost to South Africa 142/5 in 15.5 overs (Rubin Hermann 45, Dewald Brevis 41; Richard Ngarava 3-35, Trevor Gwandu 2-15) by five wickets. — Cricbuzz
