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South Africa vs Zimbabwe, Final, Namibia T20I Tri-Series 2026 - CommentaryRSA vs ZIM, Final, Namibia T20I Tri-Series 2026 - Commentary

RSA
205/5(20)
ZIM
157(18)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
PLAYER OF THE SERIES
There you have it! The South African players collect the winning trophy and gather for the cameras, with a few cheers and plenty of smiles as they celebrate. And with that, we bring the curtains down on this tri-series. We hope you enjoyed our coverage. South Africa will now turn their attention to a three-match ODI series against Namibia at this very venue in Windhoek, beginning September 9. But for now, it’s time for us to take your leave. Until next time, it’s goodbye and goodnight from everyone here at Cricketlineguruji!
Bjorn Fortuin | SA captain: [On winning the final] A very good way to end the series. I think the most pleasing thing was seeing different guys stand up at different times. We saw Jordan (Hermann) do that for the team today, and it's also a team in good stead going into the future. [How was your outing here in Namibia?] It's always nice to come back and not be reminded of the past losses every time, but it's a lovely place to play cricket. We love the crowds that come out here, and hopefully we can spend some more time here in the future. [What stood out for you today?] Just like I mentioned earlier, just another guy standing up and putting in a performance for the team. We don't want to be one of those teams where we're too dependent and too reliant on two or three players. So to see another guy stand up and put in a performance was the highlight.
Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe captain: [On the tri-series] It has been an overall (a good) outing. It's been good to be here and play some good cricket. The only downside to that is I felt like we took two steps forward and a step back, and that's something that's really hurtful. [Where did Zimbabwe fall short today?] I think we missed out on a lot of boxes. South Africa showed us how to bowl on that wicket. You cannot tell me the wicket got better in the second innings. South Africa was a great example of how to bowl on a wicket like that. Unfortunately, we didn't bowl as well as we should have, and then to top it off, I thought when we came out to bat as well, we just didn't capitalise. We didn't give ourselves a chance to do the right things, and suddenly we got ourselves on the back foot and we lost the game. [On lower-order putting up a fight] A lot of inspiration can surely be drawn from Brad Evans, Matigimu, as well as Nyamhuri showing a lot of character there towards the end. Our tail has been scoring a lot of runs as well, and you can take a lot of heart in that as well, but that doesn't mean the top order or the middle order don't do their jobs. Imagine if you can set the platform for these guys, then they can surely win us the game. Unfortunately, we haven't given them the platform. They keep coming, scoring all those valuable runs that make us take to some respectable total, but still I feel like that's not good enough from all of us.
Jordan Hermann | Player of the Match: [Everything came together in the final?] Yes, I think it's a very good performance from us. It's pretty tough to bring back the win. [On his brother Rubin Hermann] I always pray the best for him, and I think he does the same for me. So, it's never a competition. I'm just glad that he can perform as well.
17:16 Local Time, 15:16 GMT, 20:46 IST: South Africa began the tri-series with a defeat against hosts Namibia, but quickly turned things around, stringing together four consecutive wins, with a commanding victory over Zimbabwe in the final providing the perfect finish for a young and inexperienced unit. South Africa made full use of the excellent batting conditions, with every batter making a contribution. The bowling unit then turned ruthless, dismissing Zimbabwe for 157. The margin may have been 48 runs, but Zimbabwe were never really in the run chase. Eathan Bosch and Duan Jansen bullied them in the powerplay, as Zimbabwe were reduced to 81/8 in 11.3 overs. Brad Evans then smashed his highest T20I score, an unbeaten 56 off 31 balls, and added 52 for the ninth wicket with Kundai Matigimu to give Zimbabwe a respectable finish. But at no stage did they look like getting anywhere close to the target. Jansen and Bjorn Fortuin finished with three wickets each, while Bosch claimed two. Stay tuned for the post-match reaction..
Over 18
157-10
61Wd5641W(23 runs)

Blessing Muzarabani
8 (5)
Brad Evans
56 (31)
Duan Jansen
3-0-38-3

17.6
W
Duan Jansen to Blessing Muzarabani, out Caught by Bjorn Fortuin!! All over, South Africa win the final by 48 runs! Muzarabani is the last man to go, miscues the heave towards extra cover as the ball angles away and the bat twists in his hands. The fielder comes in a couple of steps and takes a simple catch. Blessing Muzarabani c Bjorn Fortuin b Duan Jansen 8(5) [6s-1]
Duan Jansen to Blessing Muzarabani, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
17.5
Duan Jansen to Brad Evans, 1 run, Evans looks for the lap shot, but Jansen spots it and bowls it outside off. Evans gets down on one knee and whips it towards deep mid-wicket for a single
17.4
4
Duan Jansen to Brad Evans, FOUR, Brad Evans is putting on a late show! Half-volley outside off, and Brad Evans shuffles across, and then slams the drive through extra cover for a boundary
17.3
F
Duan Jansen to Brad Evans, SIX, maiden T20I fifty for Brad Evans! Picks this fullish delivery and smokes it over cow corner for his fourth maximum
17.3
Duan Jansen to Brad Evans, 5 wides, it’s been given as a wide, as the left-armer goes outside the wide guideline. The keeper makes a mess of it, missing the ball completely, and it races away for a boundary
17.2
Duan Jansen to Blessing Muzarabani, 1 run, yorker outside off, Blessing Muzarabani inside edges the heave onto the pads as the ball rolls to point
17.1
6
Duan Jansen to Blessing Muzarabani, SIX, oh hello, Blessing Muzarabani! Gets a full toss close to off and lofts it high over long-on for a maximum, then holds the pose and admires the shot
Duan Jansen [2.0-0-15-2] is back into the attack
Over 17
134-9
W01000(1 runs)

Brad Evans
45 (28)
Blessing Muzarabani
1 (2)
Kwena Maphaka
2-0-9-1

16.6
Kwena Maphaka to Brad Evans, no run, another yorker, a perfect one and Brad Evans jams it back to Kwena Maphaka who is quick on the ball and makes sure they don't steal a single
16.5
Kwena Maphaka to Brad Evans, no run, goes for the yorker as Brad Evans under-edges the flick onto the boot
16.4
Kwena Maphaka to Brad Evans, no run, into the pitch as the ball angles in. Evans attempts the hook but misses, and he’s not happy as the umpire doesn’t call it a wide down the leg
16.3
Kwena Maphaka to Blessing Muzarabani, 1 run, slower one into the length, Blessing Muzarabani plays it to the off side with soft hands and brings Evans back on strike
16.2
Kwena Maphaka to Blessing Muzarabani, no run, greets Blessing Muzarabani with a yorker but the tall man does well to bring his bat down and dig it out
Blessing Muzarabani, right handed bat, comes to the crease
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