Tri-Nation Series 2025: South Africa start campaign with comprehensive five-wicket win versus Zimbabwe

South Africa registered a five-wicket win in the first T20I in the tri-nation series against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in Harare on Monday, July 14. Zimbabwe did show some fight with the bat as well as with the ball, but South Africa kept firm control of the match at all times.

Rassie van der Dussen won the toss and opted to field first on Monday. Lungi Ngidi, one of the more experienced players in the new-look South African side, gave the first breakthrough to his team as Wessly Madhevere was run-out after playing a scratchy knock, scoring one off nine deliveries. Clive Madande and Brian Bennet joined forces, but they couldn't manage to up the scoring rate. Their partnership yielded 31 runs off 29 balls after Clive Madande was sent packing by Nqabayomzi Peter. The wicketkeeper-batter only managed eight runs off 16 balls.

Bennet got himself set at the crease, but George Linde sent him back to the hut after he had scored 30 off 28 balls. At 55/3 in the 11th over, the hosts needed their captain, Sikandar Raza and senior statesman Ryan Burl to step up. The duo smashed the South African bowlers with disdain during their 66-run partnership off 38 balls to take Zimbabwe beyond the 120-run mark.

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Burl holed out to debutant Rubin Hermann at long-off in the 18th over, trying to take Nandre Burger for a six down the ground. The all-rounder contributed with a 29-run knock off 20 balls. Raza remained unbeaten on 54 off 38 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes as Zimbabwe huffed and puffed to 141/6 in their 20 overs. George Linde was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking three wickets for 10 runs in three overs.

South Africa didn't get off to a great start as Lhuan-Dre Pretorious, who scored a belligerent century on his Test debut last month, departed for a duck off the first ball in his maiden ODI appearance. Zimbabwe got the wickets of Reeza Hendricks and van der Dussen inside the powerplay. The Proteas scored 38/3 in the first six overs.

Dewald Brevis and Hermann steadied the ship for South Africa with a 72-run partnership off 37 balls. The former smashed 41 runs off just 17 balls, belting one four and five sixes. Hermann played the anchor's role commendably before becoming Richard Ngarava's third victim. The 28-year-old scored 45 off 37 deliveries.

Corbin Bosch finished unbeaten on 23 off 15 balls with Linde for company as South Africa romped home in 15.5 overs with five wickets to spare.