Player of the Match
Player of the Match

4:28pm That will be all from us for this game. But over in London, England are closing in on a famous win, even as Jadeja tries to keep them at bay. Head over for all the live action, but until next time, from Binoy and myself (Shashwat), this is goodbye!

Dewald Brevis, Player of the Match: (On what he was thinking going in to bat) When I made my mark there, it was a big privilege to represent South Africa again, and that was what was going through my head. It was super fun, and I am glad we won. I am just watching the ball and wherever the ball goes, it needs to go, irrespective of the size of the boundary. (On the chat with Hermann during their partnership) It was quite clear. We were in an interesting position but we were only a few boundaries away. There was no need to rush anything or go searching - plan was to keep it simple and play our game.

Rassie van der Dussen, South Africa captain: (What was the most pleasing aspect) The fearlessness of the young guys, Brevis coming in and then Rubin. Lost a few more wickets (than ideal) at the start. That partnership they had, it was brilliant. Overall, pretty happy with that performance. Dewald, he has played the IPL, the SA20, he has had a brilliant 6-12 months. Rubin has been around the domestic circuit forever and did not look out of his depth at all. He played his game and that is really encouraging. He (Ngidi) was brilliant. He took the first over and set the tone, well backed up as well. We probably lost (two overs that did not go to plan), but the rest of the bowling attack kept calm. It was a good batting wicket out there. (On if the pitch changed in the second innings) Little bit, but not too much. I was happy to bat or bowl first. Lungi got it to move off the seam and they got it (to move as well). Once the hardness of the new ball goes away, it becomes a little more true (for batting).

Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe captain: (Where batting went wrong) In the middle, we got a little stuck. Credit to Linde, his three overs suddenly changed the game. If that was a little different, we might have had 150-160. We were not sure about the wicket - we now know these are not going to be high-scoring games. We lost wickets at the wrong time and that put the brakes (on our innings). The new ball in the winter plays its part, and that (middle overs batting) was the difference. The scan in England was not too nice for him (Ngarava). He has worked really hard and he has come back earlier. Our three seamers did the job but after the powerplay, the bowlers, including me, need to do a better job. It is a conversation I had with the board as well. It is going to take a lot of courage and patience. Will try and lead them in a way that they can get experience (from me) of playing from around the world and for Zimbabwe. I am extremely proud of the way the guys are learning. The scoreboard may not be showing it, but there are a lot of good things we are doing. Some other things we have not done (as well), and once we do that (it will be better). We know where we have gone wrong, and we have to ensure the standard keeps going up and up.

4:08pm A comfortable run-chase in the end. That, though, was not the case at the start of the innings, with Pretorius, Hendricks and van der Dussen all perishing inside the powerplay. Hermann, on debut, though, steadied the ship, before Brevis teed off against Burl through the middle overs. That spurt of runs put South Africa well ahead in the game and even though neither Brevis or Hermann could stick around till the end, the result never seemed in doubt.

As for Zimbabwe, there were promising moments, most notably the way they bowled in the powerplay. But their lack of penetration through the middle overs stuck out, with their spinners unable to exert as much control as their South African counterparts. They did not have a whole heap of runs to play with either, and those are the things they will look back at before they face New Zealand in a few days from now. Stick around for the post-match presentation.

15.5
1
Sikandar Raza to Linde, 1 run, that will be that! A simple enough single to seal a convincing win, and SA are on the board! Raza drags it short on middle and leg. Linde rocks back and pulls it on the bounce to deep mid wicket. Canters across for the single and that perhaps sums up this run-chase!

Around the wicket to Linde

15.4
1
Sikandar Raza to Bosch, 1 run, back of a length on leg stump. Bosch stays back and tucks it off his pads towards deep backward square leg, who may have been the only fielder on the fence. Scores level!

Field comes in with SA needing just two more

15.3
2
Sikandar Raza to Bosch, 2 runs, well well! Back of a length outside leg, perhaps as a riposte to Bosch shaping for the reverse. He still fetches it and tugs it behind point for a brace
15.2
1
Sikandar Raza to Linde, 1 run, shortish on middle and leg. Linde hops back and heaves it towards deep square leg

Gwandu tried to solider on, but could not do so. Raza takes over bowling duties and he will complete this over. Around the wicket

Gwandu is down with cramp. Masakadza comes around to help him with a bit of stretching

15.1
1
Gwandu to Bosch, 1 run, off-pace on a full length outside off. Bosch comes forward and drives it towards long on

Gwandu to bowl out too. He has been impressive today

END OF OVER:
15 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | SA: 136/5 (6 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 9.06, RRR: 1.20)

  • Corbin Bosch19 (12b)
  • George Linde1 (1b)
  • Richard Ngarava4-0-35-3
  • Blessing Muzarabani3-0-22-0
14.6
1
Ngarava to Bosch, 1 run, full on middle and leg. Bosch nearly falls over but accesses the ball just in time and in front of his pad. Pushed to long on for a run

Into single-digits now. Seven more needed

14.5
4
Ngarava to Bosch, FOUR, Bosch finds the fence! Not the best ball Ngarava has bowled today. Dragged down on the pads and Bosch swings it away past short fine leg!
14.4
0
Ngarava to Bosch, no run, full toss on middle and off. Bosch, shuffling across, abandons that move mid-way and is happy to pat it back to the bowler. He could have smashed that into the stands but for a brief moment, it did seem like he was falling across too. Good for SA he didn't
14.3
1
Ngarava to Linde, 1 run, angled in on a length on middle and leg. Linde prods it into the vacant mid on region and gets off the mark

Farai Leboho: "Three more wickets in next over, and we have a nerving end to this contest" -- Well, Ngarava has one of those. Can he get rid of Linde too? SA still need 12

14.2
W
Ngarava to Herman, OUT, off stump smashed, and Ngarava has his third! Slanted in on a length just outside off and this seems to skid onto the batter. Keeps a little low too and Hermann, looking to force the issue down the ground, cannot adjust in time. The ball is nowhere near the ball in the end and he watches his off stump flat on the ground as he walks back for a 36-ball 45 on T20I debut!

RA Herman b Ngarava 45 (53m 37b 5x4 1x6) SR: 121.62

SA two big hits away from a win now

14.1
1
Ngarava to Bosch, 1 run, bumper outside off. Bosch goes back and across to cover the outward angle and hacks it towards deep mid wicket

Ngarava to bowl out

END OF OVER:
14 | 10 Runs | SA: 129/4 (13 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 9.21, RRR: 2.16)

  • Corbin Bosch13 (8b)
  • Rubin Hermann45 (36b)
  • Blessing Muzarabani3-0-22-0
  • Richard Ngarava3-0-28-2
13.6
1
Muzarabani to Bosch, 1 run, zipped in full on middle stump. Bosch comes forward and knocks it to long on to retain strike
13.5
2
Muzarabani to Bosch, 2 runs, back of a length on the pads. Bosch uses the pace and the angle and glances it behind square for a couple of runs
13.4
4
Muzarabani to Bosch, FOUR, slow, short and punished! This is another bruising Bosch stroke. He gets on top of the bounce and slaps it past extra cover!
13.3
1
Muzarabani to Herman, 1 run, full just outside off. Hermann clears his front leg and drags it towards long on
13.2
0
Muzarabani to Herman, no run, back of a length outside off. Hermann hacks it to the bowler's left and then audibly denies the single as Muzarabani fields it off his follow-through
13.1
2
Muzarabani to Herman, 2 runs, shortish on middle and off. Hermann goes back and across before nurdling it into the mid wicket region. Hits it with just enough pace and as the ball holds up on the edge of the ring, Hermann scurries back for two

Muzarabani back on too. SA need 23 more

END OF OVER:
13 | 9 Runs | SA: 119/4 (23 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 9.15, RRR: 3.28)

  • Corbin Bosch6 (5b)
  • Rubin Hermann42 (33b)
  • Richard Ngarava3-0-28-2
  • Trevor Gwandu3-0-14-2
12.6
0
Ngarava to Bosch, no run, dug in short on middle and off. This skips off the surface and rushes Bosch on the pull, pinging him in the midriff
12.5
0
Ngarava to Bosch, no run, off-pace and into the track just outside off. Bosch has an ungainly mow at it and squirts it off the inside edge towards the keeper
12.4
2
Ngarava to Bosch, 2 runs, back of a length outside off. Bosch throws his hands at it and glides it with an open bat face past backward point. Another easy brace
12.3
4
Ngarava to Bosch, FOUR, dispatched disdainfully! Another attempted bumper but this only gets up to the waist around off stump. Bosch lets the ball arrive before belting it past mid wicket!
12.2
1
Ngarava to Herman, 1 run, slower bumper outside off. Hermann waits for it and flat-bats it towards long on
12.1
2
Ngarava to Herman, 2 runs, back of a length just outside off. Hermann gets up on his toes and nudges it to the edge of the ring in the mid on region. Calls for two early and Bosch makes it back to the danger end

Ngarava back on, presumably to take another wicket. SA still need 32 more

South Africa 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st1RR HendricksLG Pretorius
2nd16RR HendricksHE van der Dussen
3rd21HE van der DussenRA Herman
4th72RA HermanD Brevis
5th20C BoschRA Herman
6th12GF LindeC Bosch