Cricket
Bosch, Nini lead Proteas Women to dominant T20I win in Zimbabwe─── MORGAN PIEK 06:50 Sat, 12 Sep 2026
Anneke Bosch and debutant Nthabiseng Nini produced standout performances as the Proteas Women opened their five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe with a convincing six-wicket victory in Bulawayo on Friday.
Nini marked her international debut in style, claiming three wickets for 17 runs in 3.3 overs to help bowl Zimbabwe out for 117. Bosch then produced a superb unbeaten-looking chase, smashing a career-best 83 from just 43 deliveries, including eleven fours and three sixes, to take South Africa comfortably across the line.
Zimbabwe chose to bat first after winning the toss, but their innings quickly fell into trouble as the Proteas attack made early inroads.
Nondumiso Shangase and Annerie Dercksen. Photo: Cricinfo
Nini made an immediate impact, becoming only the second Proteas Women player after Chloé Tryon to take a wicket with her first delivery in international cricket. She dismissed opener Nyasha Gwanzura for three before striking again four balls later, bowling Kelis Ndhlovu without scoring.
Eliz-Mari Marx then chipped in with a wicket, before Nini claimed her third scalp as Zimbabwe slumped to 12/4 in the fourth over.
The hosts showed character during the remainder of the powerplay, reaching 33/4, with Modeste Mupachikwa and Beloved Biza putting together a valuable 35-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Kayla Reyneke broke the stand in the eighth over, but Mupachikwa continued to anchor the Zimbabwean innings. She added 21 runs with Michelle Mavunga before Annerie Dercksen dismissed Mavunga, who had helped Zimbabwe move to 81/5.
Mupachikwa remained the key threat as the Lady Chevrons passed the 100-run mark, but Reyneke struck again in the 18th over to remove the top scorer.
Captain Nomvelo Sibanda added a useful 15 before Reyneke and Dercksen completed the job, with Zimbabwe bowled out for 117 in the final over.
Kayla Reyneke. Photo: Cricinfo
South Africa’s chase suffered an early setback when captain Laura Wolvaardt was dismissed for six by Gwanzura in the second over.
However, Bosch immediately took control. She combined with Nondumiso Shangase, who contributed 18, to steer the Proteas to 45/1 at the end of the powerplay.
The pair soon brought up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, with Bosch putting Zimbabwe’s bowlers under increasing pressure.
The experienced batter reached her sixth T20I half-century as South Africa moved rapidly towards victory. Tshuma eventually ended the 68-run partnership by dismissing Shangase, leaving the Proteas on 75/2 at the halfway stage.
Zimbabwe managed two further breakthroughs, with Mavunga dismissing Faye Tunnicliffe for one before Gwanzura removed Bosch, but the damage had already been done.
South Africa reached the target with 41 balls to spare to secure an emphatic six-wicket victory and take an early 1-0 lead in the series.
The second T20I takes place at Queens Sports Club on Sunday, with the match scheduled to be streamed live on Cricket South Africa's YouTube channel from 13:30.
