SA vs ZIM Final Live Commentary - Windhoek (06 September 2026)

In the air... falls safely. Full from Brad, outside off, Jordan tries to play the lofted cover drive but ends up slicing it off the toe end. However, the ball has enough on it to evade the in-field and is hunted down by the cover fielder. Two runs taken.

No run, played towards point.

Fires it across the batter, full and outside off, Esterhuizen makes the leave as the ball flirts past the tramline.

Play and a miss! Angled across once again, but the length is pulled back by Newman. Connor does not move his feet and tries to tonk it downtown, but the ball keeps leaving him and zips past the bat. There's a slight appeal for caught behind, but the umpire turns it down.

Risky single! Back of a length, around off, Connor plays close to the body and dabs it with soft hands to the short third fielder, and they scamper across for a single. The fielder picks and throws the ball in a motion, but misses his shy at the bowling end. Had the throw hit, Connor Esterhuizen was gone for all money as he wasn't even in the frame.

SIX! Helped away! Half-volley onto the pads, angling in, Jordan Hermann picks it up off the pads and dumps it into the stands behind deep backward square leg for half a dozen runs.

Nip-backer on a length, around off, Jordan stands up on his toes and steers it behind mid-wicket for an easy single.

SIX! Stand and deliver! Hits the length hard, does Nyamhuri, on off. Connor stands tall and impeccably swats it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. He was onto it in a flash. This is a really bright start for the Proteas in this finale.

Starts with a very full ball, on off, Jordan carves it toward mid off and they hurry through for a single. The mid off fielder attacks the ball but fails to pick it up cleanly.

Hammers the ball on a length, on top of middle and generates a bit of extra bounce. Connor hangs back and stabs it down the pitch.

Slightly fuller than the previous ball, aimed at the stumps. Esterhuizen watchfully blocks it off the back foot.

Back of a length, around off, Connor backs away to make room, and lofts it over extra cover. He does not time the ball well, but it has enough power to clear the in-field and they pick up two runs.

Tap and run! Length delivery, angled into the batter, Connor stays deep inside the crease and tucks it in front of mid-wicket. Calls his partner through for a quick single. Bennett moves forward rapidly and scores a direct hit at the bowling end, but Esterhuizen is home safely by then. The ball deflects towards mid on but it is chased down by Raza from mid off. A tight single, though.

Ripper from Blessing! Extracts bounce by bending his back, short of a length, outside off. Jordan Hermann just about manages to drop his wrists and sways away from the firing line to make the leave.

FOUR! Runs straight away! Full from Madhevere, outside off. Esterhuizen leans on and crunches it through the cover and extra cover gap for a boundary.

Pitched full on middle, Connor lunges and whips it through wide mid on for a single.

Pushed through from around the stump, full on middle, Jordan takes a big stride in front to block.

 FOUR! Pins the gap! Dropped short by Wessly on middle, Hermann uses the depth of the crease and hammers it through the mid-wicket gap for a boundary.

FOUR! The third four of the over! Ordinary bowling. Onto the pads, full in length. Jordan gets down on one knee and sweeps it behind square on the leg side for a cracking boundary.

On a fuller length, on the leg stump, Jordan plays against the spin and firmly drives it to widish long on for a single. A very productive opening over for the Proteas as 13 runs come from it.