Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE got their cricket Tri-series off to a rough start, as Dewald Brevis’ half-century helped South Africa stroll to a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Chevrons at the FNB International Stadium in Namibia yesterday.
Brevis’ second score of 75 runs in as many innings proved successful as South Africa got their first points on the board in the Namibia T20I tri-series.
South Africa set a target that was exactly the same number of runs they managed to score in the opener against Namibia — which they lost by 18 runs — and Zimbabwe proved no match for them.
The Proteas made light work of the total, and polished it off inside 14 overs, as Richard Ngarava’s absence showed.
Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza bowled four overs for 34 runs between them, but almost everyone else conceded at nine to the over or more, with Graeme Cremer the most expensive.
He came back into the side for the first time since the T20 World Cup and bowled two overs which cost 32 runs.
In the end, Zimbabwe’s bowlers could only work with the total their batters set and will reflect on that as being where the match was lost.
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, but squandered a strong start and slipped from 76 runs for one after 10 overs to 144 for eight.
They scored only 68 runs and lost seven wickets in the second half of their innings as South Africa deployed both spin and seam to strangling effect.
Only Duan Jansen conceded at more than 6.75 runs an over, as his four overs cost 45 runs, but he picked up more wickets than anyone else: three.
South Africa now join Namibia on two points, with Zimbabwe winless from their only game so far.
Today will be a rest day in the series, but Zimbabwe will be back in action to meet Namibia tomorrow for their second match.
With Brian Bennett as an opening batting partner, Ben Curran is usually content with watching the onslaught, but he took control to strong effect yesterday.
After Bennett hit the first boundary — a scoop off Eathan Bosch — Curran plundered 14 runs off three Duan Jansen deliveries, including the ramp, the swat over midwicket and the straight six over the bowler’s head.
He stayed ahead of Bennett in the early stages and was on 24 off 11 balls, with Bennett 20 off 19, before he tried to clear mid-on, but was caught by a leaping Tony de Zorzi.
Much like Namibia in the tri-series opener, Zimbabwe were pulled back from a strong start, but their regression was more dramatic.
While Namibia lost nine wickets for 79 runs after being 84 for 1 in the 10th over, Zimbabwe were 74 runs for one after nine overs and only added 20 runs in the next six overs and lost four wickets in the process.
Offspinner Prenelan Subrayen put the brakes on them.
Then Dion Myers hit a Bjorn Fortuin half-tracker straight to Bosch at deep midwicket and conceded just three runs in the 11th over.
Bennett had to do something to accelerate the cause and charged Subrayen, but succeeded only in yorking himself.
The spinners then made way for Bosch and Kwena Maphaka, who took pace off well to make scoring difficult.
Raza tried to smash Bosch through the covers and was caught by a leaping Jordan Hermann and Ryan Burl was bowled by Subrayen to leave Zimbabwe 94 for 5 in the 16th over and in need of a big finish.
A sixth-wicket stand of 43 off 23 balls between Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani gave them some impetus, but Zimbabwe were unable to reach even 145.
After showing off the no-look six during his 75 in the opening match, Brevis decided to admire his own handiwork this time and kept his eyes on the ball for each of the first three sixes they hit.
He announced his arrival at the crease by hitting Newman Nyamhuri, who had just dismissed Hermann, over long-off for six.
After using his wrists to take three fours off Blessing Muzarabani’s second over and ending the powerplay on 19 off 9 balls, Brevis greeted Graeme Cremer with a six over long-on.
He peeped as the ball cleared the stadium and had to be retrieved in the parking lot.
It came back, only to disappear over Cremer’s head for another six.
If that was not enough, Brevis swatted Zimbabwe captain Raza over midwicket for his fourth six and was on 40 off just 15 balls.
He reached his half-century with another six off Cremer, off the 24th ball he faced and added another six in the over for good measure. — Zimpapers Sports Hub/Cricinfo
