South Africa win by 34 runs (Source: File)
South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 34 runs in the first of three Twenty20 internationals at Buffalo Park on Tuesday. The Proteas have made a few changes to their side by including quite a few fresh faces to their squad but that did not bear any outcome in the result of the match. In fact debutant Van Der Dussen’s fifty spurred his team to go 1-0 up in the series. Chasing a competitive 161, Zimbabwe lost early wickets as Imran Tahir ripped through the batting orde. Despite Peter Moor’s quick 44 it simply was not enough. With yet another loss Zimbabwe will have a lot to ponder upon as they continue their losing streak in the rainbow nation.
South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 34 runs.
ALL OVER! Peter Moor is out for 44 and Zimbabwe are all out for 126. South Africa win by 34 runs. They o 1-0 up in the 3-match T20I series. A heroic bowling performance by Imran Tahir earned him the Player of the Match.
Bowled! Lungi Ngidi takes another wicket as he dismissed Kyle Jarvis gone for a duck. Zimbabwe are 126/9 after 16.4 overs. Target 161
Moor and Mavuta put on 53 in three overs, but Junior Dala breaks the partership with Mavuta's wicket. Brandon Mavuta is out for 28. Ngidi takes the catch as Junior Dala picks up the wicket. ZIM- 123/8, need 38 runs in 24 balls
4 SIXES IN A ROW! Peter Moor has launched into Shamsi and whacked him for consecutive maximums. Zimbabwe still have a chance here. ZIM- 105/7, need 56 runs in 30 balls
Zimbabwe in free fall now, they have gone from 65/4 to 70/7 within six balls. Another superb spell of bowling from Tahi. He finishes with figures of 5/23 in his four overs.
65/4 to 70/7 within six balls. Zimbabwe have gone into collapso mode again. Imran Tahir has got five.
A Brilliant catch from De Kock! Junior Dala gets his first of the night to dismiss Brendan Taylor for 19 - caught behind. Zimbabwe - 40/4 after 8 overs. Target 161
First six overs come to an end and Zimbabwe are 31/3. Imran Tahir has been the wrecker in chief with three important wickets. Zimbabwe have a long road ahead.
Two wickets in two balls for Tahir and he is on a hat-trick. First to go is Masakadza and then Tarisai Masakanda gets an edge to the ball and is brilliantly caught by De Kock. Zimbabwe are 11/3 after 3.2 overs
Chasing 161, Zimbabwe are off to a slow start and lost a wicket early. Chibhabha is bowled by Tahir. And he is off with the celebration. After 2 overs, Zimbabwe are 7/1.
Rassie van der Dussen hits a half-century on debut but a good bowling effort from Jarvis (3/37) Mpofu (2/24) and Mavuta (1/19) keeps South Africa to 160/6 - will it be enough? stay tuned for live action
Rassie van der Dussen is gone for 56. The slower ball does the trick once again for Mpofu. Good catch by Masakadza. SA- 149/5, 18 ovs
David Miller is out for 39. Goes for the big hit but miscues it completely and has to depart back to the pavillion. Jonker arrives at the crease as SA- 139/4, 17 ovs
100 comes up for the Proteas! Miller and Van der Dussen continue to take the scoreboard forward. That’s also the 50-run partnership between van der Dussen (33*) and Miller (22*). SA- 102/3, 13 ovs
The hard graft continues between these two against the double spin attack of Brandon Mavuta and Sean Williams. Van der Dussen going well on 28* with Miller in 17*. SA- 91/3 after 12 ovs.
After the departure of their skipper Faf du Plessis, the Proteas are slowly rebuilding with Rassie van der Dussen (21) and left hander David Miller (5) at the crease. SA- 71/3, 9 ovs
Brandon Mavuta, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack. And he gets the breakthrough. OUT! Faf Du Plessis (34) departs immediately after the powerplay. Flighted delivery and the batsman goes with the turn but fails to connect properly and the ball goes straight to the fielder at sweeper cover. SA- 52/3, 6.1 ovs
50 UP! Great shot from van der Dussen, who takes us past the 50-run mark with a six over deep backward square. du Plessis- 33 (16), Van der Dussen 8 (8) are still at the crease. SA- 52/2, 6 ovs
Expensive over as Tendai Chisoro's over cost 14 runs . Three fours from the bat of du Plessis as he moves to 33 of 16. Du Plessis has already smashed five fours and two sixes. SA- 44/2 after 5 ovs
First aggressive shot of the match by skipper Faf du Plessis. However, he is not done and once again moves leg side to whack another maximum. Two sixes in the over, SA- 28/2, 3 ovs
Quinton de Kock departs for 5. Mpofu picks up the wicket. Short of good length and QDK goes for the pull but top edge goes straight to the fielder at deep backward leg SA- 11/2, 1.3 ovs
So players from both the teams are out on the pitch. Quinton de Kock and debutant Gihahn Cloete are at the crease. Zimbabwe's Kyle Jarvis has the ball in hand. And we are off. Zimbabwe strike early! Gihahn Cloete's debut is short lived as he is out for 2. Jarvis picks up the wicket. Duminy arrives at the crease and gets off the mark with a boundary. After 1 over, SA- 7/1
Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza(c), Brendan Taylor(w), Tarisai Musakanda, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Brandon Mavuta, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chisoro, Chris Mpofu
Quinton de Kock(w), Gihahn Cloete, Faf du Plessis(c), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Christiaan Jonker, Andile Phehlukwayo, Junior Dala, Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
South Africa win the toss and opt to bat in the first. Gihahn Cloete and Rassie van der Dussen debut. The pitch seems like a one which might be on the slower side. But who knows? Stay tuned for all the updates.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the first of three Twenty20 internationals between South Africa and Zimbabwe. After a clean sweep in the ODI's the Proteas will eye to continue their momentum. However, Zimbabwe will definitely fancy their chances in the shortest format of the game. Who will emerge victorious in this exciting contest at Buffalo Park? Stay tuned for all the live updates.