Dewald Brevis Helps South Africa defeat Zimbabwe by 5 Wickets

Starting the Tri-Series with a commanding performance, South Africa defeated Zimbabwe by 5 wickets with 25 balls to spare in the opening match of the Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series at Harare Sports Club on July 14, 2025. Chasing a modest 142, South Africa overcame an early stumble to cruise home in 15.5 overs, thanks to standout performances from debutant Rubin Hermann (45 off 37) and Dewald Brevis (41 off 17). Zimbabwe, despite a fighting 54 not out from captain Sikandar Raza, struggled to post a competitive total, ending at 141/6 in 20 overs.

Sikandar Raza Helps Zimbabwe Reach 141 Runs

Zimbabwe, batting first after South Africa won the toss and chose to field, faced early trouble on a pitch offering slight seam movement. Wessly Madhevere fell for 1 in the 2.3rd over, hitting his wicket off Lungi Ngidi’s back-of-a-length delivery, leaving Zimbabwe at 8/1. Brian Bennett and Clive Madande steadied the innings, taking the score to 39/2 in 7.2 overs. Bennett, striking at 107.14, hit 4 fours in his 30 off 28 balls, including glorious cover drives off Corbin Bosch. However, Nqabayomzi Peter dismissed Madande for 8, bowling him in the 7.2nd over, and George Linde removed Bennett, caught by Reeza Hendricks, in the 10.5th over, reducing Zimbabwe to 55/3.

Sikandar Raza, leading from the front, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 54 off 38 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes, SR: 142.10). His 15th T20I fifty, and first against South Africa, came in 36 balls, lifting Zimbabwe from a shaky start. Raza’s partnership with Ryan Burl, who scored a brisk 29 off 20 (3 fours, 1 six), added 66 runs for the fourth wicket by the 17.1st over, pushing Zimbabwe to 121/4. Burl’s aggressive intent, including a lofted six off Andile Simelane, gave momentum, but Nandre Burger ended his stay, caught by Rubin Hermann. Linde struck twice in the 19th over, dismissing Tashinga Musekiwa (9 off 8) and Tony Munyonga (0 off 1), both caught, leaving Zimbabwe at 138/6.

Wellington Masakadza’s 1 not out off 1 ball and extras (7 leg byes, 1 wide, 1 no-ball) helped Zimbabwe reach 141/6 in 20 overs, at a run rate of 7.05 over 94 minutes. South Africa’s bowlers were disciplined, with Linde stealing the show. His 3/10 in 3 overs, including a tight first over and two wickets in the 19th over, choked Zimbabwe’s middle order. Ngidi’s 1/15 in 4 overs, with a maiden, set the tone, while Burger’s 1/22 and Peter’s 1/22 supported well. Bosch (0/36) and Simelane (0/29) were expensive, conceding 65 runs in 6 overs, as Raza and Burl capitalised late.

Zimbabwe’s 34/1 in the powerplay (0.1-6.0 overs) matched their joint-highest against South Africa, but too many dots (55) and a slow middle phase, as noted by Raza post-match, kept their total under par on a pitch favouring higher scores. Raza’s leadership milestone, surpassing Craig Ervine with 39 T20I captaincies, added a positive note, but Zimbabwe needed more support for their captain to challenge South Africa’s strong bowling unit.

South Africa’s Strong Run Chase

Chasing 142, South Africa faced immediate pressure as Richard Ngarava struck in the first over, dismissing debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius for a duck, caught and bowled off the first ball. Reeza Hendricks (11 off 9, 2 fours) and Rassie van der Dussen (16 off 13, 1 four, 2 sixes) added 16 runs before Ngarava bowled Hendricks in the 2.3rd over, leaving South Africa at 17/2. Trevor Gwandu removed van der Dussen, caught by Ryan Burl in the 5.4th over, reducing them to 38/3 in the powerplay, which yielded 38 runs at 6.33 per over. Zimbabwe’s seamers, led by Ngarava (3/35), applied early pressure, with Blessing Muzarabani (0/22) keeping things tight.

Rubin Hermann and Dewald Brevis turned the game with a match-defining 72-run fourth-wicket partnership in 6.1 overs. Hermann, on debut, scored a composed 45 off 37 (5 fours, 1 six, SR: 121.62), starting with a six off Ngarava over fine leg and later hammering three consecutive fours off Wellington Masakadza. Brevis, batting with fearless intent, smashed 41 off 17 balls (1 four, 5 sixes, SR: 241.17), reaching 28 in a 30-ball stand with Hermann that took South Africa to 100 in 10.6 overs.

His explosive knock, including back-to-back sixes off Ryan Burl, brought the required run rate below 7. Brevis fell in the 11.5th over, caught by Brian Bennett off Gwandu, with South Africa at 110/4. Hermann’s dismissal by Ngarava in the 14.2nd over, bowled for 45, left South Africa at 130/5, needing 12 runs. Corbin Bosch (23 not out off 15, 3 fours, SR: 153.33) and George Linde (3 not out off 3) sealed the chase in the 15.5th over, with Bosch hitting the winning runs off Gwandu.

South Africa finished at 142/5, with a run rate of 8.96 over 79 minutes. Ngarava’s 3/35, including his record-breaking 82nd T20I wicket for Zimbabwe, and Gwandu’s 2/15 were highlights for Zimbabwe, but their bowlers struggled with consistency, conceding 3 wides. Masakadza (0/21) and Raza (0/24) couldn’t break through, while Burl’s 1-over spell cost 25 runs.

The match’s turning point was the Hermann-Brevis partnership, which shifted momentum decisively. Brevis’s 17-ball blitz, earning him Player of the Match, and Hermann’s steady debut knock showcased South Africa’s depth, especially with debutants Pretorius, Hermann, and Bosch. Linde’s bowling heroics, backed by Ngidi’s early breakthrough, restricted Zimbabwe’s scoring. Raza’s fifty was a lone bright spot for Zimbabwe, who suffered their sixth straight T20I loss to South Africa, a team they’ve never beaten in the format.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

For the fans, the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game was George Linde’s game-changing bowling spell that swung the momentum in South Africa’s favour during Zimbabwe’s innings in the T20I Tri-Series opener at Harare on July 14, 2025. Linde’s brilliant 3/10 in 3 overs, with an economy of 3.33, dismantled Zimbabwe’s middle order, restricting them to 141/6 in 20 overs. Introduced in the 10th over, he struck in his second over, dismissing Brian Bennett for 30, caught by Reeza Hendricks, leaving Zimbabwe at 55/3.

His real impact came in the 19th over, where he removed Tashinga Musekiwa (9 off 8) and Tony Munyonga (0 off 1) in consecutive deliveries, both caught, halting Zimbabwe’s late charge at 138/6. Linde’s tight lines, conceding no boundaries and bowling 9 dot balls, choked the scoring on a pitch where Zimbabwe managed a 7.05 run rate. His wickets broke a crucial 66-run stand between Sikandar Raza (54* off 38) and Ryan Burl, ensuring South Africa kept the total chaseable. Linde’s spell, backed by Lungi Ngidi’s 1/15, set up South Africa’s 5-wicket win with 25 balls to spare.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

The TCNI’s Hero of the Day, Dewald Brevis, lit up South Africa’s chase of 142 in the T20I Tri-Series opener against Zimbabwe, earning them a 5-wicket win with 25 balls to spare. Brevis smashed a blazing 41 off 17 balls, boasting a strike rate of 241.17, with 1 four and 5 sixes. Coming in at 38/3 in the 5.4th over, he transformed the game alongside Rubin Hermann, forming a 72-run fourth-wicket stand in just 6.1 overs.

Brevis’s aggressive intent shone as he smashed back-to-back sixes off Ryan Burl, racing to 28 in a 30-ball partnership that powered South Africa to 100 in 10.6 overs. His explosive knock, including a towering six off Trevor Gwandu, brought the target within reach, reducing the required rate below 7. Brevis fell in the 11.5th over, caught by Brian Bennett off Gwandu, with South Africa at 110/4, but his 24-minute blitz set up the victory. South Africa finished at 142/5 in 15.5 overs, with a run rate of 8.96.