Brevis blitz sees off Zimbabwe as South Africa bounce back

South Africa won the tri-series match against Zimbabwe by seven wickets thanks to disciplined bowling in the second half of the innings and Dewald Brevis's blistering 75 not out off just 32 balls.

Having lost to Namibia in their previous game, South Africa hit back strongly, restricting Zimbabwe to 144 before racing to the target in just 13.4 overs. Brevis smashed six sixes and seven fours in his unbeaten innings to power South Africa to an emphatic win in the second tri-series game at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.

Jordan Hermann and Lhuan-dre Pretorius set the tone for the chase with a positive opening stand, putting on 32 in 3.2 overs before Hermann fell for 20 off 13. Pretorius and Brevis then took charge, ensuring a productive Powerplay for South Africa as they reached 61 in the first six overs. Brevis launched his first ball for six and tore into Zimbabwe's bowling as soon as he entered the crease, accelerating the chase. Brevis reached fifty in just 23 balls, despite Pretorius's dismissal for 22 off 13, and his assault left Zimbabwe scrambling for answers, particularly Graeme Cremer, whose two overs cost 32 runs.

Four of Brevis' sixes came off Cremer as South Africa blazed to 103 for 2 after 10 overs, having ended the Powerplay with 61. Blessing Muzarabani defeated Tony de Zorzi after de Zorzi scored 15 runs, but Brevis persevered and scored another 21 runs before reaching his fifty with a six. Rubin Hermann's brief cameo (11* off 7) came in a unbroken 39-run stand with Brevis, who struck the winning boundary to help South Africa cross the line in the 14th over.

Earlier, South Africa hit back strongly after Zimbabwe made a flying start. After eight overs, Zimbabwe was 68 for 1; however, as South Africa's bowlers tightened the screws, they lost regular wickets. Ben Curran struck four boundaries and a six in his 12-ball 24 to get Zimbabwe off the blocks before falling to Duan Jansen. Brian Bennett top-scored with 34 off 35 but struggled to maintain the tempo after the Powerplay. Prenelan Subrayen and Bjorn Fortuin were particularly effective through the middle overs, combining for three wickets and conceding just 52 runs in their eight overs.

Zimbabwe's innings was given late impetus by Tadiwanashe Marumani, who struck 30 off 13 balls with three sixes and a four, but his dismissal in the 19th over left the lower order with little time to add to the total. Zimbabwe got 14 runs in the last two overs, losing three wickets in the process. Eathan Bosch impressed on his debut with 1 for 20, and Kwena Maphaka returned 1 for 24. Duan Jansen took three wickets but gave up 45 runs.