And that's a wrap for the first T20I of the Tri-Nation series! We'll be back in action on July 16th, 2025, when South Africa takes on New Zealand at 11 am GMT. Tune in an hour early for all the pre-match hype and updates. Until then, cheers and see you soon!

Rassie van der Dussen, South Africa's captain, praised Dewald Brevis's outstanding performances over the past 6-12 months and highlighted Rubin Hermann's sensational domestic form, noting that their contributions are encouraging for the team. He commended Lungi Ngidi for his excellent execution and variations, particularly in the Powerplay. Van der Dussen also mentioned that the ball was swinging significantly for both teams in the early stages and emphasized the importance of maintaining an aggressive approach.

Dewald Brevis, the Player of the Match, expressed his gratitude for representing his nation in the T20 format. He confidently stated that the size of the ground doesn't matter to him, as he knows he has the power to clear any boundary, attributing his ability to a natural gift. Brevis mentioned that the target wasn't massive, so he focused on playing his natural game, which ultimately paid off.

Sikandar Raza, Zimbabwe's skipper, reflected on the match, acknowledging that they got a reprieve with the bat in the middle overs, largely due to George Linde's tight spell. He emphasized the need for more aggression in their batting approach, given the good tracks prepared by the curators. Raza praised the opposition for their aggressive batting, despite losing wickets at times. He also commended Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani for their consistency and dedication to the team. Looking ahead, Raza mentioned discussing with the board the importance of backing young talent for long-term success, rather than focusing solely on short-term results, believing that patience will ultimately reflect on the scoreboard.

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Earlier, Zimbabwe's batting effort ended with a thud as George Linde's brilliant last over, yielding two wickets for just four runs, restricted them to 141/6. After a steady start, Zimbabwe lost wickets at regular intervals, but Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl's 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket gave them hope. Raza scored a 34-ball fifty, but Linde's exceptional bowling in the final over denied Zimbabwe a strong finish. Linde finished with 3/10 in three overs, while Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Nqaba Peter took one wicket each, doing a fine job for South Africa. Raza remained unbeaten on 54.

Zimbabwe's bowlers started strong, but the partnership between Brevis and Rubin proved to be the turning point, as they took the attack onto the bowlers and Zimbabwe struggled to contain them. Richard Ngarava was the standout bowler for Zimbabwe, claiming three wickets, while Trevor Gwandu took two. However, Gwandu's injury is a concern, and Zimbabwe will hope he recovers in time for the next game, given his impressive bowling performance.

The Proteas' win wasn't as straightforward as it looks. After a shaky start, losing their top three for low scores within the Powerplay, Dewald Brevis and Rubin Hermann formed a crucial partnership, adding 72 runs off just 37 balls. This turned the tide in South Africa's favor. Corbin Bosch also chipped in with a useful 23, helping the Proteas cross the line and seal the win.

South Africa seals the win! SA wins the contest by 5 wickets, thanks to Dewald Brevis and Rubin Hermann's aggressive batting and clinical strokeplay, which paved the way for a convincing victory.

Trevor Gwandu is having some trouble with his footing and he seems to be going off and Sikandar Raza will be replacing him into the attack.