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Dewald Brevis hit an unbeaten 75 from 32 balls with seven fours and six sixes as South Africa chased down 145 in 13.4 overs to beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the Namibia T20I Tri-Series at Windhoek. It was his second successive score of 75. Zimbabwe were held to 144 for 8 after being 61 for 1 at the end of the powerplay, with Duan Jansen taking 3 for 45 and every one of South Africa’s five bowlers picking up a wicket.
Windhoek, Namibia: Dewald Brevis made 75 on Friday and South Africa lost. He made 75 again on Saturday and they won with 38 balls to spare.
There was a neatness to the arithmetic, too. Zimbabwe’s 144 was exactly the total South Africa had managed against Namibia the previous day, when they went down by 18 runs. This time it was not close.
Seventy-Five, Again
Brevis came in at 32 for 1 in the third over, Jordan Hermann having made 20 from 13 before Newman Nyamhuri got him. He reached fifty from 24 balls and finished on 75 not out from 32, a strike rate of 234.
In the opening match he had celebrated a six by not watching it. This time he kept his eyes on the ball for the first three. Zimbabwe, missing Richard Ngarava, had nobody who could contain him. Wessly Madhevere and Sikandar Raza bowled four overs between them for 34; almost everyone else went at nine an over or worse. Graeme Cremer, back in the side for the first time since the T20 World Cup, sent down two overs that cost 32.
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Lhuan-dre Pretorius made 22 from 13 and Tony de Zorzi 15 before Blessing Muzarabani had him at 107 for 3. Brevis finished it himself, an outside edge off Brad Evans running away for four.
Five Bowlers, Five Wickets
Zimbabwe had started well enough. Brian Bennett and Ben Curran put on 45 in 5.1 overs, Curran taking 14 off three Jansen deliveries — a ramp, a swat over midwicket and a straight six — on the way to 24 from 12. He then tried to take on the short ball, and Tony de Zorzi ran back at mid-on to hold it.
From 61 for 1 at the end of the powerplay, the innings unravelled through the middle. Captain Bjorn Fortuin removed Dion Myers for 17 at 76. Four runs later Prenelan Subrayen bowled Bennett, who had made 34 from 35. Eathan Bosch, on T20I debut, took his first international wicket when Raza drove firmly towards extra cover and Jordan Hermann flung himself to his right to catch it. Subrayen then bowled Ryan Burl.
Zimbabwe were 94 for 5 in the 16th over. Subrayen finished with 2 for 27 and Fortuin 1 for 25, both from their full four, and all five South African bowlers took at least one.
Marumani’s Thirteen Balls
The one moment of real resistance came from Tadiwanashe Marumani, who made 30 from 13 with three sixes and put on 43 in 23 balls with Madhevere for the sixth wicket.
It got Zimbabwe to 137, and then the innings stopped dead: Marumani caught by Hermann off Kwena Maphaka, Madhevere gone at the same score, Evans out at 142. They finished on 144 for 8, short of a total that might have asked South Africa a question.
The Table
South Africa, who have rested most of their first-choice players for this series, take their first two points and go top, with Namibia second on the same number. Zimbabwe are without a win from their only game so far.
Brevis, named Player of the Match, said it was good to get the win after slipping up the day before, and that Windhoek is a lovely ground to play on.
Sunday is a rest day. Namibia play Zimbabwe on Monday, with four matches left before the final on 6 September.
Result: South Africa beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets (38 balls remaining)
Zimbabwe 144/8 (20 overs) — Brian Bennett 34 (35), Tadiwanashe Marumani 30 (13), Ben Curran 24 (12); Duan Jansen 3-45, Prenelan Subrayen 2-27, Eathan Bosch 1-20, Kwena Maphaka 1-24, Bjorn Fortuin 1-25
South Africa 146/3 (13.4 overs) — Dewald Brevis 75* (32), Lhuan-dre Pretorius 22, Jordan Hermann 20; Brad Evans 1-19, Blessing Muzarabani 1-30, Newman Nyamhuri 1-31
Player of the Match: Dewald Brevis (South Africa)
Venue: Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
