An Imran Tahir master class and half century from debutant Rassie van der Dussen helped the Proteas cruise to a comfortable 34 run victory over Zimbabwe in the opening T20 clash at Buffalo Park on Tuesday night.
Tahir, opening the bowling alongside the miserly Lungi Ngidi, claimed three wickets in his first spell and two in his second, winning man-of-the match award in the process.
Chasing 161 to win, Zimbabwe were in all sorts of trouble on 11/3 in the fourth over, as Ngidi only conceded five runs in his first two overs while Tahir yorked Chamu Chibhabha (3) in his first, and then trapped Hamilton Masakadza (1) and had Tarisai Musakanda caught behind by Quinton de Kock for a first ball duck.
Brendan Taylor (19) and Sean Williams (21) tried to revive the innings for Zimbabwe but Junior Dala accounted for Taylor and the returning Tahir got Williams, both caught by de Kock, while Elton Chigumbura was trapped lbw for a first ball duck by the spinner with Zimbabwe basically out of it at 65/6 in the 12th over.
Peter Moor (44) and Brandon Mavuta (26) took Tabraiz Shamsi and Dala to the cleaners with an entertaining 53-run eighth wicket partnership off just 19 balls but it wasn't enough as they fell to 126 all out in the end.
At the start of play Faf du Plessis brought out what he called his professional coin tosser – JP Duminy, who although not in the team duly won the toss, with du Plessis choosing to bat.
It was not the best of starts for SA as debutant Gihahn Cloete (2) was caught by Hamilton Masakadza at first slip off Kyle Jarvis delivery in the first over.
In the second over de Kock (5) tried to pull a length ball from Christopher Mpofu but was caught by Chibhabha with the Proteas in trouble on 11/2.
This brought van der Dussen to the crease to join du Plessis. The two set about rebuilding the innings with a 41-run stand which helped to steady the Proteas ship to a comfortable 160/6 in their innings...