Wesley Madhevere blasted 35 not out from 18 balls to help Zimbabwe recover from a slow start as they posted 79-4 from their allocated nine overs in their T20 World Cup match against South Africa at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday.
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and chose to bat first before the rain started to fall but he was the first batter to fall toe-ending a drive against Wayne Parnell to Lungi Ngidi at mid-on.
Regis Chakabva (8) heaved Ngidi’s first delivery over midwicket for six but edged the second to ‘keeper Quinton de Kock and in-form Sikander Raza (0) edged a lifter to de Kock who held a fine, one-handed catch above his head.
Sean Williams (1) was run out by a direct hit from David Miller and Zimbabwe were in deep trouble at 19-4 after just 3.4 overs.
But Madhevere struck a thrilling 35 with four fours and a six and Milton Shumba kept him company with a run-a-ball 19 containing two fours.
Parnell bowled two outstanding overs to start for figures of 1-6 while Anrich Nortje was no less impressive at the end of the innings finishing with 2-0-11-0. Kagiso and Ngidi both conceded 20 runs from their two overs – Ngidi claimed two wickets as well – while the sole spinner, Keshav Maharaj, bowled his solitary over at a cost of 10 runs.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
ZIMBABWE: Regis Chakabva (wk), Craig Ervine (capt), Wesley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.