Proteas Start Tri-Series with Confident Win Over Zimbabwe

South Africa kicked off their T20I Tri-Series campaign with a composed five-wicket win over Zimbabwe, chasing down 141 with 11 balls to spare in a well-paced, professional outing in Harare.

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Zimbabwe, who were put in to bat, managed 141 for 6 in their 20 overs, a total that looked competitive early on but ultimately fell short on a surface offering both bounce and turn. The home side’s innings never quite gathered the explosive momentum they needed, thanks largely to the Proteas' disciplined bowling attack - and the standout performance of George Linde.

Linde was electric with the ball, finishing with match-winning figures of 3 for 10 in his four overs. The left-arm spinner struck in the powerplay and came back to stifle Zimbabwe’s middle order just as they looked to build a platform. What stood out wasn’t just the wickets - it was the control. Every over he bowled tightened the noose, using flight, turn and subtle variations to outfox the batters. His spell changed the tone of the innings and ensured Zimbabwe were always chasing stability rather than dominance.

In response, South Africa’s batting line-up handled the chase with composure. Rubin Hermann laid the foundation with a steady 45, guiding the early part of the innings before his dismissal. Dewald Brevis followed with a lively 41, injecting momentum just when it was needed. As Zimbabwe looked to claw their way back with a few timely breakthroughs, it was the composed pairing of Corbin Bosch and George Linde who stepped in during the final stretch, calmly steering South Africa to victory with 11 balls to spare.

There’s a sense of measured confidence in this Proteas unit - and with bowlers like Linde hitting their stride early in the series, the signs are promising for what lies ahead.