WINDHOEK, Namibia — Dewald Brevis smashed an unbeaten 75 off 32 balls as South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their T20I tri-series encounter at the Namibia Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Zimbabwe, who won the toss and elected to bat, posted 144 for eight from their 20 overs, with Brian Bennett top-scoring with 34 and Tadiwanashe Marumani providing a late burst with 30 off 13 balls.
South Africa made light work of the target, reaching 146 for three in 13.4 overs as Brevis struck six sixes and seven fours.
Zimbabwe started brightly through Bennett and Ben Curran, who put on 45 runs inside the first five overs.
Curran raced to 24 off 12 balls, hitting four fours and a six, before he skied Duan Jansen and was caught at mid-on in the sixth over.
Bennett and Dion Myers took Zimbabwe to 76 by the end of the 10th over before Myers, who made 17, was caught on the midwicket boundary off Bjorn Fortuin.
Bennett followed with the score on 80 after advancing down the pitch to attack Prenelan Subrayen, only to be yorked. He made 34 off 35 balls, including four fours and a six.
Sikandar Raza was caught for 10 by Jordan Hermann at extra cover off Eathan Bosch, leaving Zimbabwe on 92 for four.
Ryan Burl followed for four, chopping a Subrayen delivery onto his stumps as Zimbabwe slipped to 94 for five in the 16th over.
Marumani provided the late acceleration, smashing three sixes and a four in his 13-ball 30 before he was caught near the midwicket boundary with the score on 137.
Jansen claimed two wickets in the final over to finish with three for 45 as Zimbabwe closed on 144 for eight.
South Africa made a fast start to their chase, with Hermann scoring 20 off 13 balls before being caught in the covers off Newman Nyamhuri.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius made 22 off 13 balls before miscuing a pull off Brad Evans to Burl at mid-on.
Brevis then took control, racing to his unbeaten 75 as South Africa reached their target with 38 balls to spare.
Evans returned Zimbabwe’s most economical figures, taking one for 19 from 2.4 overs, while Blessing Muzarabani and Nyamhuri also claimed a wicket each.
The victory helped South Africa recover from their opening-day defeat to hosts Namibia and moved them level with Namibia on two points. Zimbabwe remain without a point after their opening match.
Sunday is a rest day before Zimbabwe face Namibia on Monday.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe 144-8 in 20 overs (Brian Bennett 34, Tadiwanashe Marumani 30, Ben Curran 24; Duan Jansen 3-45, Prenelan Subrayen 2-27, Eathan Bosch 1-20). South Africa 146-3 in 13.4 overs (Dewald Brevis 75 not out, Lhuan-dre Pretorius 22, Jordan Hermann 20; Brad Evans 1-19, Blessing Muzarabani 1-30, Newman Nyamhuri 1-31). South Africa won by seven wickets.
