Dewald Brevis leads South Africa to victory over Zimbabwe

Dewald Brevis needed only 32 balls to rip the contest away from Zimbabwe.

On a cool Saturday in Windhoek, the 21-year-old lit up the second match of the Tri-Series with an unbeaten 75, driving a second-string South Africa to a commanding seven-wicket win and a much-needed response after their stumble against hosts Namibia the previous day.

Chasing 145, South Africa cruised to 146 for three with 38 balls to spare. The margin told its own story. So did Brevis’ innings.

He walked in with the chase well set and turned it into a demolition, clearing the ropes, threading gaps and stripping Zimbabwe’s attack of any menace. By the time he was done, the game felt lopsided, despite the visitors arriving with a side missing most of their established stars.

Zimbabwe's Innings

Zimbabwe had earlier posted 144 for eight, a total that looked competitive when Brian Bennett and Ben Curran launched briskly. Their opening stand of 45 in 5.1 overs set a sharp tempo: Bennett worked his way to 34 from 35 balls, while Curran’s 24 off 12 hinted at something more imposing.

Then South Africa’s spinners took hold.

Just as Zimbabwe eyed a platform, Prenelan Subrayen and Bjorn Fortuin dragged the innings back. Subrayen’s 2-27 from four overs came with the kind of control captains crave in the middle phase, while Fortuin backed him up smartly, conceding only 25 in his four and striking once. Boundaries dried up. The pressure built. The early dash faded into a grind.

Duan Jansen’s figures told a different tale. The tall fast bowler, twin brother of all-rounder Marco Jansen, endured a mixed second international outing. He leaked runs but still prised out three wickets, finishing with 3-45 from his four overs. Expensive, yes, but decisive in ensuring Zimbabwe never quite broke free.

The innings never fully recovered from that squeeze. Wickets fell just when acceleration seemed possible, and 144 for eight felt a few blows light on a ground where mis-hits can still travel.

South Africa's Reply

South Africa’s reply never carried the same anxiety.

The chase unfolded with authority, underpinned by a clear intent to erase the memory of Friday’s defeat. Early stability set the stage; Brevis supplied the fireworks. He tore into anything loose, punished length, and turned a potentially tense pursuit into a training run. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, who had watched their batters scrap hard for every run, suddenly found themselves with no scoreboard pressure to work with and no answer to Brevis’ range of strokes.

By the time the winning runs came, the contrast between the sides was stark: one attack suffocated in the middle overs, the other was dismantled by a young batter in full flow.

The Tri-Series now moves on with Namibia hosting Zimbabwe at the same venue on Monday. Zimbabwe must find a way to shake off this bruising defeat quickly, or risk watching the hosts and a depleted South Africa dictate the rhythm of a tournament that still has room for a late twist.