Brad Evans’ heroics in vain as Zimbabwe fall in tri-series final

HARARE – Brad Evans produced a superb all-round performance, claiming two wickets before smashing his maiden T20I half-century, but Zimbabwe went down by 48 runs to South Africa in the final of the tri-series in Windhoek on Sunday.

Set a daunting 206 for victory, Zimbabwe slipped to 61 for seven before Evans launched a spirited counterattack, striking an unbeaten 56 from only 31 deliveries to lift his side to 157 all out.

Earlier, South Africa had won the toss and elected to bat, racing to 205 for five from their 20 overs.

Wessly Madhevere’s opening over yielded 14 runs, with Connor Esterhuizen hitting one four and Jordan Hermann finding the boundary twice.

The two openers maintained the momentum against Newman Nyamhuri, each clearing the leg-side boundary in an over that took South Africa to 32 without loss.

Evans conceded 11 from his first over before Kundai Matigimu’s opening over went for 20, with Hermann striking three fours and Esterhuizen adding a six.

Blessing Muzarabani provided Zimbabwe with some control, conceding only seven runs from his first two overs, but Hermann raced to his half-century from just 24 balls in the eighth over.

Later in the same over, Nyamhuri made the breakthrough when Esterhuizen skied a catch to Ben Curran at cover, departing for 32 from 23 deliveries with the total on 84.

Evans then removed Hermann, whose miscued pull was brilliantly taken by Ryan Burl with a running and diving catch at long-on.

Hermann’s entertaining 53 came from 29 balls and included one six and eight fours, leaving South Africa on 93 for two in the 10th over.

Dewald Brevis and Tony de Zorzi kept the innings moving, with Brevis pulling a short delivery from Madhevere for six before de Zorzi struck Matigimu for two fours in an over.

Their promising partnership ended in the 13th over when a dipping delivery from Sikandar Raza drew de Zorzi out of his crease, allowing Tadiwanashe Marumani to complete a straightforward stumping.

De Zorzi made 17 from 11 balls as South Africa slipped to 122 for three.

The total had reached 150 for three after 15 overs, with Brevis and Rubin Hermann looking to accelerate.

Once again, Evans provided the breakthrough, having Brevis caught by Raza at long-off for 32 from 23 deliveries to make it 169 for four in the 17th over.

Rubin Hermann followed in the next over, caught behind off the glove by Marumani while attempting to scoop Nyamhuri to fine leg.

He departed for 27 with the score on 172 for five.

Eathan Bosch and Duan Jansen then carried South Africa beyond 200, with Jansen finishing unbeaten on 23 and Bosch on seven.

Evans returned two for 36, while Nyamhuri took two for 51.

Muzarabani was the most economical of Zimbabwe’s bowlers, conceding only 25 runs from his four overs.

Zimbabwe’s pursuit suffered an immediate setback when Curran edged his first delivery to wicketkeeper Esterhuizen while attempting to cut Bosch.

Brian Bennett followed in the second over, after he miscued an attempted scoop off Jansen and was caught by Esterhuizen for six, leaving Zimbabwe on 14 for two.

Innocent Kaia then lobbed an attempted leg-side stroke off Bosch to mid-off for nine before Madhevere, having pulled a boundary, picked out the fielder at deep backward square leg for six.

Zimbabwe were 25 for four after four overs.

Raza responded by pulling Bosch over midwicket for six, while Burl received a reprieve when he was caught at deep midwicket off a no-ball for the second bouncer of the over.

The subsequent free hit was a yorker that crashed into Burl’s stumps as he swung across the line, but Zimbabwe reached the end of the powerplay on 46 for four.

Burl’s innings ended in the eighth over when he was bowled by Bjorn Fortuin for 13, before Marumani was caught at extra cover for three while attempting to clear the boundary off Prenelan Subrayen.

Raza then fell for 16, brilliantly caught by Jordan Hermann at extra cover off Fortuin, leaving Zimbabwe in deep trouble at 61 for seven.

Evans counterattacked with a six and a four from successive Subrayen deliveries, but Nyamhuri was caught at long-on off Fortuin for seven to make it 81 for eight.

After receiving two fielding reprieves in the same over, Evans took full advantage, bringing up Zimbabwe’s 100 with a slog-swept six before launching Nqobani Mokoena over backward square leg for another maximum.

His aggression inspired Matigimu, who struck Subrayen for consecutive sixes before he was caught by the wicketkeeper off Maphaka for 19, the second-highest score of the innings.

Last man Muzarabani joined in with a six over long-on off Jansen before Evans reached his maiden T20I half-century in style, launching another six over deep square leg.

The innings ended later in the over when Muzarabani was caught at extra cover for eight, leaving Evans unbeaten on a defiant 56 that featured four fours and four sixes.

Jansen and Fortuin claimed three wickets apiece as South Africa secured the tri-series title, but Evans’ late fireworks ensured Zimbabwe finished the tournament fighting to the end. – ZC Media