Young Proteas opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius delivered his T20I career-best with a 94-run knock against Zimbabwe in the tri-series clash on September 1. Pretorius missed his ton but his knock of 94 helped South Africa post 185/7 which was enough to register a comfortable 43-run win at Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek. Skipper Bjorn Fortuin wreaked havoc with four-fer whereas Duan Jansen bagged three wickets as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 142.
Pretorius, Brevis dominate Zimbabwe bowling attack
Fortuin won the toss and opted to bat first. Jordan Hermann and Pretorius used the powerplay overs well. South Africa were 59 for no loss after six overs. The partnership was broken by Wesley Madhavere in the eighth over with Hermann's wicket. The opener scored 28 runs from 25 balls. In the 10th over, Pretorius reached his half-century from 27 balls.
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Pretorius got a reprieve in the 11th over as his catch was dropped. In the next over, an in-form Dewald Brevis smashed Kundai Matigimu for two sixes and a four. In the 16th over, Brevis lost his wicket to Brad Evans. He scored 41 runs from 27 balls. In the next over, Connor Esterhuizen fell to Newman Nyamhuri. Madhevere struck twice in the 18th over, dismissing Rubin Hermann and Eathan Bosch. In the penultimate over, Pretorius missed a chance to score his maiden T20I ton. He was knocked over by Evans. He hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 51-ball 94. No boundaries were scored in the final over. South Africa managed to post 185/7, adding just 31 runs from 28 balls after Brevis' dismissal.
Zimbabwe suffer batting collapse
In the run chase, Ben Curran was dismissed cheaply by Prenelan Subrayen in the second over. Innocent Kaia's catch was dropped off Kwena Maphaka's bowling. He rubbed salt on Maphaka's wounds with a four and a six. Then, Fortuin delivered a double wicket-maiden, dismissing Brian Bennett and Madhavere. Jansen was introduced into the attack and he knocked over Kaia. After powerplay overs, Zimbabwe were 43/4.
In his second over, Juansen struck twice to dismiss Ryan Burl and Tadiwanashe Marumani. Then, Nqabayomzi Peter got Evans got for a single-digit score. Masakadza was run out in the 10th over as Zimbabwe lost eight wickets for just 67 runs.
Raza targeted Peter, hitting him for 22 runs in an over including four fours and a six. In the 14th over, Fortuin got Raza stumped. The skipper scored 45 runs from 33 balls. Nyamhuri and Matigimu entertained the crowd with big shots. Fortuin wrapped up the proceedings with Nyamhuri's wicket. He scored 27 runs from 25 balls. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 142 in 17.4 overs.
Zimbabwe’s tri-series final chances look bleak
Zimbabwe are now placed third on the points table. They will need to beat Namibia by a big margin and then hope South Africa do the same in order to qualify for the tri-series final on September 6.