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Hermann, Van der Dussen see Proteas to comfortable win over Zimbabwe

football20 July 2025 15:11| © MWP
By:Patrick Compton
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A sizzling half-century from player of the match Rubin Hermann and a more measured effort from Rassie van der Dussen enabled South Africa to cruise to a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe with 16 balls to spare in their Tri-Series T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

The victory knocks out Zimbabwe and qualifies the Proteas for next Saturday’s final, which will be against New Zealand, who have so far won both their matches.

Speaking afterwards, Proteas’ skipper Van der Dussen said: “Overall, I felt there were improvements in all aspects. The seamers were great and the death bowling was excellent. Rubin was very good. We'll look at the New Zealand matches (two to come) as a three-match series. We're 1-0 down at present so we’re looking to equal that and win the final.”

Chasing 145 for the win, after they had restricted Zimbabwe to 144 for six wickets, South Africa struggled in the first half of their innings, as Zimbabwe had done earlier, before conditions eased and Hermann and Van der Dussen were able to score freely, adding 106 in 68 balls for the third wicket.

The two openers, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Reeza Hendricks, both failed, with Pretorius mistiming a pull to mid-on off the bowling of paceman Tinotenda Maposa who also accounted for Hendricks, who edged a drive off a wide delivery to wicketkeeper Clive Madande.

Hermann and Van der Dussen came together on 28 for two in the sixth over and were able to benefit from some poor bowling from the Zimbabwean spinners, particularly skipper Sikanda Raza (0-26 off two overs), who bowled too short.

Altogether, the three spinners bled 51 runs in five overs as Hermann, in particular, helped himself to a series of freebies.

The left-hander’s innings, his first half-century at this level, was remarkable for its clean-hitting, with a number of flat-bat smashes past the bowler as he hit three fours and four sixes in his 63 off 36 balls. Van der Dussen was the perfect counterpoint, striking six fours in his measured unbeaten 52, his 10th T20I half-century.

The match had effectively been won when Hermann was bowled by a delivery from paceman Richard Ngarava that kept a little low, and it remained for the captain and Dewald Brevis to ease their team over the line. Brevis, with a six and a four, saw the match finish in flamboyant fashion as he handsomely drove and pulled boundaries.

Earlier, outstanding bowling at the death by Corbin Bosch and Nandre Burger enabled the Proteas to restrict Zimbabwe to their below-par total.

Like South Africa later in the match, Zimbabwe made a sluggish start after Van der Dussen had won the toss and chosen to bowl first. Batting was awkward against the new ball on a pitch where the ball seamed and didn’t come onto the bat. The first boundary only came in the third over when Wessly Madhevere drove Lungi Ngidi over mid-on. The right-hander didn’t last much longer, however, driving Bosch straight to Van der Dussen at mid-off in the next over.

Madande gave Bosch his second wicket shortly afterwards, toe-ending a pull straight back to the bowler, and when skipper Raza swept legspinner Nqaba Peter straight to Burger on the square leg boundary, Zimbabwe were struggling on 44 for three in the ninth over.

Opener Brian Bennett and Ryan Burl then resurrected the innings with a fine partnership of 78 off 47 balls, with Bennett, in particular, increasing the momentum of his and Zimbabwe’s innings after a slow start. The right-hander struck 61 in 43 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, before he was deceived and bowled by a slow yorker from Ngidi.

The 21-year-old’s fourth T20I half-century, however, proved to be the high-water mark of the Zimbabwe innings as the lower-order subsided with no one able to provide support for Burl, who was denied the strike or tied down by Burger and Bosch, finally finishing unbeaten on 36 in 31 balls.

Bosch and Burger performed a star turn for the Proteas with the former finishing with 2-16 off four overs and the latter 1-20 off his full spell. Peter and Ngidi claimed a wicket each, while the other wicket came from a run-out when Burl sent back Tony Munyonga when the tailender attempted a second run, George Linde and wicketkeeper Pretorious effecting the run-out.

ZIMBABWE: Wessly Madhevere, Brian Bennett, Clive Madande (wkt), Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Trevor Gwandu

SOUTH AFRICA: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wkt), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen (capt), Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

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