Bosch 83 sets up South Africa's comfortable win

SA reduced Zimbabwe to 12 for 4 inside four overs but they recovered to a total of almost a run a ball

South Africa 117 for 4 (Bosch 83, Gwanzura 2-19) beat Zimbabwe 116 (Mupachikwa 36, Nini 3-17) by six wickets

Anneke Bosch scored a career-best 83 - and her first T20I half-century since the 2024 World Cup semi-final against Australia - as South Africa polished off a small target of 117 in their first meeting against Zimbabwe. Their task could have been made easier after they reduced Zimbabwe to 12 for 4 inside four overs but they recovered to a total of almost a run a ball.

After choosing to bat, Zimbabwe were off to the worst possible start against a young South African attack. Nthabiseng Nini, who celebrated her 21st birthday two days ago, became the second South African to take a wicket with her first international delivery after Chloe Tryon, when Nyasha Gwanzura fished at a wide ball and was caught behind. Later in the over, Kelis Ndhlovu played on to give Nini two wickets in her opening over. If she thought international cricket couldn't get any better, in her next over, Loreen Tshuma nicked off to give Nini a third. In between that, Eliz-Mari Marx dismissed Sharne Mayers, and Zimbabwe were starring at one of their lowest totals.

Mupachikwa and Beloved Biza put on 35 off 22 balls for the fifth wicket to steady Zimbabwe before Mupachikwa and Michelle Mavunga ensured Zimbabwe avoided their lowest total. When Mavunga was caught by Laura Wolvaardt in the covers, Zimbabwe were still 19 runs away from 100. Nomvelo Sibanda took them over three figures and into the penultimate over to lend their batting some respectability.

Offspinner Gwanzura shared the new ball and started with a maiden over before Laura Wolvaardt hit her straight to Lindokuhle Mabhero. Gwanzura also has New Zealand captain Melie Kerr to her name but could well regard Wolvaardt as her biggest dismissal to date.

That was as good as it got for Zimbabwe as a determined Bosch shared a 68-run second-wicket stand with Nondumiso Shangase. Promoted to No.3, Shangase looked confident for her 18 off 22 before she skied Tshuma to Kelis Ndlovu, who judged the catch well. Faye Tunnicliffe, playing in her 15th T20I, would have been disappointed not to see the game to its conclusion, when she played a loose shot against Michelle Mavunga and was bowled. Bosch was given out lbw with one run to get when she tried a reverse-scoop and was hit on the pad. The match ended with a wide, bowled by Christine Mutasa, in the 14th over.

Zimbabwe used eight bowlers in Mark Coles' first match as new head coach, and he would have got a good idea of the work his team, still very much in development, needs to do.