Zimbabwe batted first and posted 141/6 in their allotted 20 overs, with captain Sikandar Raza top-scoring with 54. Brian Bennett chipped in with 30 off 28 balls, while Tashinga Musekiwa added a quickfire 29 off 20.

George Linde was the pick of the South African bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 3/10 from his three overs. Lungi Ngidi also bowled tidily, returning 1/15 from his full quota of four overs. Left-arm seamer Nandré Burger and spinner Nqabayomzi Peter each picked up a wicket as well.

Rubin Hermann. Photo: CSA

South Africa’s run chase got off to the worst possible start, with big-hitting debutant Lhuan-Dré Pretorius falling to a caught-and-bowled by Richard Ngarava for a golden duck off the first ball of the innings.

The Proteas were soon in trouble at 38/3 after 5.4 overs, with Reeza Hendricks (11) and captain Rassie van der Dussen (16) also back in the pavilion.

But debutant Rubin Hermann, representing the North West Dragons, steadied the innings with a composed 45 off 37 balls. He was well supported by Dewald Brevis, who blasted 41 off just 17 deliveries to take the game away from Zimbabwe.

Ngarava was Zimbabwe’s standout bowler, claiming 3/35 in his four overs. Trevor Gwandu also impressed with 2/15 in 3.1 overs before being forced off the field with a calf cramp.

After the match, Hermann said staying calm under pressure was key.

“I knew the partnership with Rassie was the most important phase of the game. If we’d lost another wicket then, things could’ve gotten dicey,” said Hermann.

“It was about absorbing the pressure and rebuilding a bit. We set the game up for the latter half, and luckily Brevis came in and played a brilliant knock, really taking the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Hermann admitted he would’ve loved to reach his fifty on debut, but said falling short of finishing the match himself was more disappointing.

“Yes, it's frustrating to fall five runs short of a milestone, but that’s just a bonus – my focus isn’t on personal stats.

“What irritated me more was leaving 12 runs out there before I could shake hands with the guys and say, ‘I finished this one off after we were three down.’ But I’m happy we got the win.”

The Proteas will be back in action on Tuesday at 13:00 when they face New Zealand at Harare Sports Club in their second match of the series.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg