Zimbabwe Vs South Africa, 1st T20I Highlights: Brevis, Hermann Power RSA To 5-Wicket Win Over ZIM In Tri-Series Opener

Hello and Welcome to the live coverage of the 1st match of the Zimbabwe T20I tri-series where the hosts are playing the Proteas at the Harare Sports Club

The first match of the T20 Tri-Series 2025 between Zimbabwe and South Africa will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website in India.

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhevere, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Clive Madande (wk), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Tinotenda Maposa, Newman Nyamhuri, Vincent Masekesa.

South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen(c), Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Nqabayomzi Peter, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Simelane, Rubin Hermann, Kwena Maphaka.

South Africa have won the toss and chosen to bowl first against Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Brian Bennett, Wessly Madhevere, Clive Madande(w), Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Tony Munyonga, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Trevor Gwandu

South Africa (Playing XI): Reeza Hendricks, Lhuan-dre Pretorius(w), Rassie van der Dussen(c), Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Andile Simelane, Nqabayomzi Peter, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

Madhevere and Brian Bennett walk out to open for Zimbabwe. It’s Bennett on strike, and Lungi Ngidi has the new ball in hand for South Africa.

Ngidi steams in, width on offer first up, and Bennett throws his hands at it! Catches the outside edge, but it flies safely past the cordon and races away to the third man boundary. First Four of the over, Zimbabwe are off the mark in style.

We're into the second over, and Ngidi continues his spell. He starts with a short-of-a-length delivery on middle and leg. Madhevere stands tall and taps it straight back to the bowler. No run.

Oh no, disaster for Zimbabwe early on. Ngidi bangs one in back of a length around middle and leg, and Madhevere rocks back looking to work it across the line. But in doing so, his back foot clips the stumps.

The bails go flying and that’s a rare, unlucky dismissal, hit wicket. Madhevere goes for just 1 off 9. Not the start Zimbabwe were hoping for.

Corbin Bosch pitches it up, and Brian Bennett is all over it! Leans into the drive and drills it through the covers, back-to-back boundaries for the Zimbabwe opener. He’s looking in fine touch early on.

Another one bites the dust. Nqabayomzi Peter flights it beautifully, landing it around middle and leg. Madande looks to dig it out but is completely beaten by the length, it sneaks through and rattles the stumps. Clean bowled! His scratchy stay at the crease ends on 8 off 16, and Zimbabwe lose their second wicket.

Into the 10th over now, and South Africa are keeping things tight. Linde starts with a clever one, Bennett skips down the pitch but keeps it grounded, nudging it to long-on for a single. Raza takes strike next and tries to steer a flatter one past backward point with an open blade, but no dice, straight to the fielder. Dot ball. Tidy stuff from Linde.

This one will sting, a big, big wicket for South Africa! Brian Bennett, who was looking settled and timing it sweetly, goes for the slog sweep off Linde. It’s tossed up on middle and leg, inviting the big shot, and Bennett takes the bait.

But he doesn't get all of it, the connection's off, and it skies towards deep mid-wicket. Reeza Hendricks positions himself perfectly, no fuss, and takes a safe catch. Zimbabwe lose their third, and it’s the set man gone for 30 off 28.

Ryan Burl keeps the scoreboard ticking. Nqabayomzi Peter drops it a touch short on middle and leg, and Burl stays balanced, tucking it neatly into the leg-side for a comfortable single. Calm, calculated batting.

What an over for Zimbabwe, 15 runs off it. Nqabayomzi Peter bangs it in short to finish, and Raza isn’t missing out. Rocks back and pulls it firmly toward wide long-on, enough on it to hustle back for two. Momentum building nicely here for the hosts.

Burger is steaming in with pace and intent, but Zimbabwe’s pair are keeping the scoreboard moving. First, Raza picks up a shortish delivery and drags it through mid-wicket for a single, not quite out of the middle, but enough to rotate strike.

Then Burl takes on a quick one outside off, swings hard and gets a thick inside edge that rolls into the leg-side. Another single. Not boundaries, but smart batting to keep the pressure from building.

Big breakthrough for South Africa. Ryan Burl looks to go big down the ground off Burger but doesn’t get the distance. Rubin Hermann settles under it at long-off and takes it safely. Burl departs for a well-made 29 off 20, and Zimbabwe lose a key wicket.

Fifty up for the skipper! Raza pulls a waist-high full toss from Corbin Bosch to deep square leg for a single, bringing up a well-earned half-century. Calm under pressure, leading from the front, and there's a bonus too, it's a no-ball! Free-hit coming up.

Zimbabwe post a fighting total of 141/6, thanks to a crucial 68-run stand between Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl. After an early blow with Madhevere hit wicket, Bennett gave the innings a push before falling to Linde, who starred with three wickets. Raza anchored the middle overs and brought up a gritty fifty, giving Zimbabwe something to bowl at. South Africa’s chase begins shortly.

Dream start for Zimbabwe in the first over. Ngarava begins with a wide, but makes up for it immediately. He bangs one in short outside off, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, looking to attack early, throws his hands at it without much footwork.

The result? A miscue straight back to the bowler. Ngarava takes a sharp return catch, and South Africa lose their opener for a duck. Early pressure applied.

RSA 6/1 (1)

Ngarava is on fire. He gets Reeza Hendricks now, and Zimbabwe are right on top in this powerplay. Back of a length outside off, with a bit of extra bounce, Hendricks tries to run it down with an angled bat, but only manages an inside edge that crashes back onto his stumps.

Bowled, Hendricks goes for 11, and that’s two early strikes for Ngarava.

Zimbabwe tighten the screws. Van der Dussen, who had launched the same shot for six in Gwandu’s previous over, tries to go again, but this time, he doesn’t get the distance. A fullish ball outside off, he steps out to loft it down the ground but mistimes it completely.

Ryan Burl is calm under the high ball at long-on and takes it cleanly. Van der Dussen walks back for 16, and Zimbabwe are firmly in control.

Raza tosses one up and Dewald Brevis doesn’t hold back! He clears his front leg and launches it high and handsome over deep mid-wicket, that’s gone all the way. Much-needed six for South Africa as they try to wrest back some momentum.

Brevis is starting to find his rhythm now. Burl drops one short and the youngster pounces, pulling it firmly through deep mid-wicket for four. No messing around. Next ball, Burl keeps it flat and just outside off, Brevis rocks back again and punches it wide of deep extra cover. They run hard and come back for two. The fight is on.

Huge moment, Brevis is gone for a fiery 41 off 17. Gwandu tempts him with a full one outside off, Brevis skies it high towards sweeper cover. Chaos briefly as four converge, but Brian Bennett holds on despite a near collision with Raza. A top catch, and Zimbabwe breathe again.

Short from Ngarava and Corbin Bosch picks it early. He rocks back and pulls it powerfully, wide of mid-wicket, no chance for the fielder. Races away for four. South Africa not backing down just yet.

Ngarava strikes again and this time it’s the set batter, Rubin Hermann. A fuller delivery that nips back just enough, sneaks through the gap and crashes into the stumps. Hermann completely beaten for pace and movement, bowled for 45 off 37.

Zimbabwe get the breakthrough they badly needed, and Ngarava continues to lead the charge with the ball.

Linde walks in with South Africa needing a steady finish. Ngarava fires in a full one on middle, and Linde gets off the mark straightaway, a neat flick to mid-on for a single. Quiet start, but every run matters now.

Clever batting from Corbin Bosch. Ngarava goes off-pace and strays down leg, with short fine leg inside the ring, Bosch helps it along with a fine pull. Beats the fielder to his left and it races away to the boundary. Pressure release for South Africa.

South Africa cruised to a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe, recovering from early trouble thanks to a blistering 72-run stand between Dewald Brevis and Rubin Hermann. Brevis stole the show with a power-packed cameo, smashing three huge sixes off Ryan Burl in one over, one even sailing out of the ground.

Hermann anchored smartly with 45, and though Zimbabwe had early hope through Ngarava’s three wickets and Gwandu’s support, the Proteas chased down 142 with ease, boosting their net run rate in the process.

"It’s a huge privilege to represent South Africa and make an impact, that’s what I kept thinking out there. I just focused on watching the ball; God’s blessed me with this talent and I play for Him. For me, if it’s a boundary opportunity, it has to go, no matter the ground size. We knew we were in a tricky spot, but not chasing a huge total, so there was no need to panic. The plan was simple: stay calm, play our game, and the runs would come.”

That’s a wrap from Harare. We’ll catch you again with another live blog real soon. Until then, take care and bye bye.