Bosch's 83 guides South Africa to a convincing win

Anneke Bosch scored a career-best 83 - and her first T20I half-century since the 2024 World Cup semi-final against Australia - as South Africa polished off a small target of 117 in their first meeting against Zimbabwe. They reduced Zimbabwe to 12 for 4 in four overs, but they recovered to a total of almost a run per ball, making their job easier.

Anneke Bosch scored a career-best 83 - and her first T20I half-century since the 2024 World Cup semi-final against Australia - as South Africa polished off a small target of 117 in their first meeting against Zimbabwe. They reduced Zimbabwe to 12 for 4 in four overs, but they recovered to a total of almost a run per ball, making their job easier.

Mupachikwa and Beloved Biza put on 35 off 22 balls for the fifth wicket to steady Zimbabwe before Mupachikwa and Michelle Mavunga ensured Zimbabwe avoided their lowest total. Zimbabwe were still 19 runs away from reaching 100 when Mavunga was caught by Laura Wolvaardt in the covers. To give their batting some respectability, Nomvelo Sibanda scored over three figures in the final over.

Offspinner Gwanzura started with a maiden over after sharing the new ball, but Laura Wolvaardt hit her directly at Lindokuhle Mabhero. Gwanzura also has Melie Kerr, the captain of New Zealand, but Wolvaardt may be her biggest firing to date.

That was as good as it got for Zimbabwe as a determined Bosch shared a 68-run second-wicket stand with Nondumiso Shangase. Promoted to No.3, Shangase looked confident for her 18 off 22 before she skied Tshuma to Kelis Ndlovu, who judged the catch well. Faye Tunnicliffe, playing in her 15th T20I, would have been disappointed not to see the game to its conclusion, when she played a loose shot against Michelle Mavunga and was bowled. When Bosch attempted a reverse scoop and was struck on the pad, she was given out lbw with only one run remaining. The match ended with a wide, bowled by Christine Mutasa, in the 14th over.

Mark Coles used eight bowlers in Zimbabwe's first match as head coach, giving him a good idea of the work his team, which is still very young, needs to do.