Staff Reporter
SOUTH AFRICA won the 2026 T20I Cricket Tri-Series after defeating Zimbabwe by 48 runs in the final at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek on Sunday.
Zimbabwe, chasing 206 for victory, were bowled out for 157 in 17.6 overs after a disastrous start saw them slump to 25/4 inside the Powerplay.
Duan Jansen and Eathan Bosch led the Proteas’ attack, while captain Bjorn Fortuin also made a significant contribution with three wickets as South Africa maintained their unbeaten T20I record against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe lost Ben Curran for a golden duck in the second over when he edged Bosch through to wicketkeeper Connor Esterhuizen.
Brian Bennett followed soon after for six, caught behind off Jansen, before Innocent Kaia was dismissed for nine by Bosch to leave Zimbabwe 19/3.
Wessly Madhevere fell for six in the fourth over, caught by Dewald Brevis off Jansen, leaving Zimbabwe in serious trouble at 25/4.
Sikandar Raza briefly offered resistance, hitting Bosch for six, while Ryan Burl and Brad Evans provided some attacking strokes.
However, Fortuin broke through when he bowled Burl for 13 in the eighth over.
Tadiwanashe Marumani was then caught by Jordan Hermann off Prenelan Subrayen for three, before Raza departed for 16, caught by Hermann off Fortuin.
At 61/7, Zimbabwe’s hopes of chasing down the target appeared all but over.
Evans, however, launched a late counterattack alongside Kundai Matigimu.
The pair put on 50 for the ninth wicket, with Matigimu hitting two sixes in a 19-ball 19 before he was caught behind off Kwena Maphaka.
Evans continued his assault, reaching his maiden T20I half-century from 29 balls, including three sixes and several boundaries.
He finished unbeaten on 51 off 29 balls, but Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out when Blessing Muzarabani was caught by Fortuin off Jansen for eight.
Jansen finished with 3/38, while Fortuin took 3/10 from 2.3 overs. Bosch claimed 2/25.
South Africa had earlier posted 205/5 after being sent in to bat, with Jordan Hermann leading the way with a maiden T20I half-century.
Hermann scored 53 off 29 balls, helping South Africa make a strong start alongside Connor Esterhuizen, who contributed 32 off 23.
The opening pair added 84 before Esterhuizen was dismissed by Newman Nyamhuri.
Hermann reached his fifty from 24 balls before Brad Evans removed him for 53.
Dewald Brevis added 32 off 23 balls, including three sixes, while Rubin Hermann scored 27 off 16.
Duan Jansen then provided late impetus as South Africa reached 205/5 from their 20 overs.
Jordan Hermann was named Player of the Match for his 53-run innings.
South Africa captain Bjorn Fortuin praised the team’s all-round performance, saying different players had stepped up in different situations during the series.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza acknowledged that his side had been inconsistent throughout the tournament, saying they had taken “two steps forward and then one step back”.
Duan Jansen was named Bowler of the Series after taking 11 wickets, while Lhuan-dre Pretorius received the Batter of the Series award after scoring 226 runs in four innings, including a career-best 101 against Namibia.
Dewald Brevis was named Player of the Series after also scoring 226 runs at a strike rate of 166.17.
South Africa will remain in Namibia for a three-match ODI series, with the first match against Namibia scheduled for Wednesday at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, while Zimbabwe will next host Australia in an ODI series beginning on 15 September.
Photo: Cricket South Africa
