SA vs ZIM Ball by Ball Commentary

WIDE! Kwena Maphaka is not quite pleased with the decision here.

Excellent piece of fielding from Tony de Zorzi! He has certainly saved a boundary here. Wide yorker from Maphaka, Wessly Madhevere stretches out and shovels it to the right of short third, off the outer half of the bat. But Tony de Zorzi dives acrobatically to that direction and plucks the ball cleanly. One run taken.

Flirts with the guideline on the off side and this time, he keeps it inside that. Very full and Madhevere tries to carve it over backward point but fails to get any sort of connection.

WIDE! Tries to keep it away from the hitting arc, but sprays it far beyond the tramline on the off side. Wessly still reaches out for it, trying to slash it over point, only to miss.

Short of a good length, wide outside off. Marumani looks shapes for the pull shot, but chops it on the surface. 15 runs off the over, 24 from the last two for the Chevrons.

SIX​​! Marumani is playing a gem of a knock here for his side. A real freebie from Duan, full and on off, Tadiwanashe Marumani plants the back knee into the pitch, and it is comfortable enough for him to get underneath the ball before he launches it over wide long off for a massive six.

FOUR! Blazes the loosener away! Juicy full toss, outside off, Tadiwanashe Marumani stays deep inside the crease and spanks it past cover-point for a cracking boundary.

Low full toss, Marumani knocks it away to the left of long on. He wastes no time calling for a couple, and completes the second run with plenty to spare.

Two is the call and they will get it. Hits the deck hard, around middle and leg. This is pulled away by Tadiwanashe from the inner half to the right of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. A bit of a wayward throw from the deep allows them to scamper across. Tadiwanashe Marumani hobbles a bit as he completes the second run and the physio is out to check him up.

Straight up, but drops between the troika in the deep! Bowls from around the wicket, a slower ball landing on a length around off. Madhevere gets it off the toe end of the bat, and it floats away high into the air. Three fielders, Bosch racing in from deep cover point, plus the men stationed at backward point and extra cover, all converge on the ball, but none quite makes it in time, and it drops agonizingly right in between each one of them.

Overpitched by Bjorn, outside off, Wessly Madhevere walks a bit forward and clobbers it on the bounce towards Brevis at long off. One run taken. 9 runs off the over. Bjorn Fortuin is done with his spell with figures reading 1/25.

Too full around off, smashed towards Tony de Zorzi at extra cover for a quick single.

SIX! Quick hands from Marumani. These are precious runs for Zimbabwe. A shade short in length, angled into the batter. Tadiwanashe Marumani picks the length in a trice and nails the pull shot, dumping the ball behind deep backward square leg for another half a dozen runs.

On the stumps, full and quick, reverse swept straight towards backward point.

Full and zooting into leg stump, Madhevere goes for a wild slog across the line, only to drag an inside edge away to short fine leg for a single.

Short of a length, around middle and leg, Madhevere rocks back and cuts it away toward backward point.

Drags the length back, on off and middle, Marumani knocks it off the back foot to cover.

SIX! Geez, that has gone many a mile. Zimbabwe need more of those to get past 150. Dropped into the slot, full on middle and leg. Tadiwanashe Marumani feasts on the half-volley, slog sweeping it powerfully behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

100 UP FOR ZIMBABWE! A touch short, on off, Wessly Madhevere presses back and knocks it down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Not exactly where he wanted, but he will take it. Tossed up, outside off stump, Madhevere drops to one knee for the reverse sweep but gets a faint inside edge. The keeper, wrong footed by the line, cannot get across in time either, and it races away down to the deep fine leg fence for four.

Zipped into the batter, on a length, from around the stump. Tadiwanashe Marumani hangs back and knocks it through mid off and extra cover for a run.

OUT! OUTFOXED! Wicket number 2 for Prenelan Subrayen. Coming around the wicket, this one is fired in full at off stump. Burl looks to drive it straight back down the ground, but gets a thick inside edge instead, and the ball crashes into middle stump which cartwheels. No real impact from Burl as well. Zimbabwe have spiralled down to 94/5 in 15.1 overs.

Digs this one in short around off through a well disguised slower ball. Burl shuffles across his stumps to help it away down to deep fine leg for a single.

Angled into the body, nudged across to square leg for a single.

Beaten! Hammers it on a hard length, outside the off stump. Wessly Madhevere tries to flay it over point, only to get bean by extra bounce and zip.

Good length, angled in. Madhevere looks to pull, but gets cramped for room. He gets an inside edge and the ball rolls to the left of the keeper.

OUT! SPECTACULAR CATCH! That's a screamer from Jordan Hermann. That was travelling at the rate of knots but excellent reflexes in the fielder there, and that earns Bosch his maiden T20I wicket. Short and outside off, generous width on offer, Raza carves it hard but gets it in the air, sending it toward extra cover's left. Jordan Hermann reads the trajectory to perfection, throws himself full stretch in that direction, and clings on brilliantly with both hands. From 76/1, Zimbabwe lose their skipper now and slip down to 92/4, with 34 balls remaining in the first innings.

Short of a good length, outside off, tapped off the back foot towards backward point for a single.

Shoots in a full ball at the pads, Raza whips it between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Slower one, short and just around the off stump. It arrives at an awkward height towards Raza who leans back to play the square cut on the off side. However, the ball beats his bat by a kitten-whisker as it carries through to the keeper.

Short of a good lengta. Raza backs away for room and dabs it towards backward point for a single.

Back of a length, outside off, skidding through. Raza stabs it towards backward point and they hustle for a single. The fielder attacks the ball and is quick to pick and throw to the bowling end, but misses his shy as Sikandar skates through.

Hard length and around the fourth stump, Raza sways out of the way and improvises a ramp down toward third man. Subrayen, patrolling the deep, races to his left and dives full stretch near the ropes, doing well to keep the ball in play and save his side a couple of runs.

Maphaka is back on! Short in length, wide on off, Raza stands in his crease and has a mighty swing at it to access the off side, only to miss out.

Good gas! Smart bowling from Bosch. He spots Burl dancing down the track and looking to flat bat it downtown. So he bangs in a sharp bumper around off and Ryan gets beaten by the extra zip and lift off the surface. 0/17 in 3 overs for him so far on debut.

On a back of a length, outside the off stump, jagging back. Sikandar Raza stands tall and tries to play the square cut through point, but ekes out an inside edge past the leg stump toward deep fine leg for a single.

Nagging length, outside off, scythed away to backward point.

Bends his back and hits the deck really hard, does Eathan, outside off. Raza hops off to ride the lifter and fends it off his gloves. The ball drops safely around backward point.

Nips in from off to middle and leg, on a fullish length. Raza tries to turn it across into the leg side, but plays over the line and is struck hard on the front pad. The ball rolls to square leg for a couple of leg byes. A mild appeal for LBW, but the umpire just walks away. Clearly going down leg, this one.

Bangs it on a length and gets it to nip back in. Raza comes forward and rides the bounce and chops it into covers.

The length is pulled back by a foot or so from Prenelan, angling into the stumps. Sikandar Raza waits for the ball to drift and nudges it wide of square leg for a single. A wicket and three runs from it. 6/2 in the last two overs for Zimbabwe. This has been a solid comeback from South Africa.

Drifting into the batter, on a fuller length, Raza looks to push it into covers, but gets an inside edge onto the front pad.

Shortish and outside off, Burl backs away and cuts it through backward point for a single to get off the mark.

Outside off and on a length, this is punched away to cover-point.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Subrayen removes the set batter in Bennett and the Chevrons are in a bit of bother now. Prenelan fires in a full ball, which is almost a yorker that tails in a touch through the air. Brian Bennett walks out of the crease, swings hard at it, but the ball dips and beats the bat to crash into the stumps behind. Brian Bennett bright start has been cut short and 45/0 becomes 80/3 for Zimbabwe.

Just outside off and full in length, Sikandar Raza sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Another fruitful over for the South Africans. A wicket, and just three singles from it. A bit short and outside off, steered off the back foot through short third for a single.

Nice and full, around the off stump, gently pushed back by Raza.

Length-delivery, around off. Bennett skips down and pumps it on the bounce to long on for a single.

On off and this is pushed to covers.

On a length, around off, Raza punches it to deep cover for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! The captain breaks the budding 32-run partnership. Coming around the wicket, short and wide outside off, Myers goes back and across, whacking it away in the air on the on side. But does not get the power or timing on the shot and finds Eathan Bosch. The fielder at deep mid-wicket barely has to move a muscle, gathering a simple, safe catch right where he stands. Zimbabwe are 76/2, afte 10.1 overs.

Fired in, on off, Dion Myers knocks it to mid on for a single.

Nice and full, on leg, Brian Bennett flicks it through square leg for a single.

Four dots in a row! Follows the batter down leg, Brian Bennett shuffles across and looks to punch it but misses.

Quicker, on off, Brian Bennett blocks it back to the bowler.

Full and outside off, Brian Bennett looks to play a reverse sweep but misses and wears it on his pads. Half an appeal for LBW, with not much conviction and it is turned down.

Flatter, on leg, Brian Bennett blocks it back to the bowler.

Quicker, on leg, Brian Bennett flicks it through mid-wicket for one more.

Flatter, on off, Dion Myers pushes it through covers for a single.

Just short! Loopy, on leg, Brian Bennett slogs it over backward square leg. The ball carries and lands just short of Duan Jansen in the deep. The batters collect a single.

Quicker, on leg, Dion Myers knocks it to mid on for a single.

Fired in, on off, Dion Myers fends it to the off side.

Quicker, outside off, Dion Myers drives it through covers for a brace.

Back of a length, on leg, Dion Myers tucks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Slightly shorter, on off, Dion Myers stands up on his toes and punches it to point.

Spotting Myers charging down the track, Kwena smartly bangs it short and angles it across. Dion lets it be.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Back of a length, on middle, Dion Myers swivels and pulls it in the gap through backward square leg for a boundary.

Shaping away, outside off, Dion Myers taps it to the point fielder.

Much fuller, on leg, Dion Myers flicks it through backward square leg for a brace.

Nice and full, on leg, Dion Myers flicks it through widish square leg for a single.

Fired in, on leg, Dion Myers flicks it to mid-wicket.

Quicker, on off, Brian Bennett eases it to cover for a single.

FOUR! That goes through the fence! Loops it up, outside off, Brian Bennett shimmies down the ground and powers it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Fired in, on off, Brian Bennett blocks it back to the bowler.

Flatter, outside off, Dion Myers pushes it through mid off for a single.

Much fuller, on leg, Brian Bennett flicks it through mid-wicket for a brace. Zimbabwe are 55/1 at the end of Powerplay.

FOUR! 50 comes up for Zimbabwe! Fullish and outside off, Brian Bennett makes room and looks to drive it. Gets a thick outside edge as the ball races away through backward point for a boundary.

Beaten! Slower one, outside off, Brian Bennett swings hard but misses.

Nice and full, outside off, Dion Myers pushes it to mid off for a quick single.

Good length, around the waist, Dion Myers tucks it through backward square leg for a brace.

Wide! A wayward bouncer, outside off, Dion Myers sways away from it. Wide called for height.

OUT! TAKEN! That's a blinder from Tony de Zorzi. Duan Jansen bangs it short as he sees the batter charge. On off, Ben Curran moves forward and looks to loft it but gets a top edge. The ball goes high in the air towards long on. Tony de Zorzi runs behind over his left shoulder from mid on and dives low to take a magnificent catch. Duan is ecstatic, and understandably so. Zimbabwe are 45/1 after 5.1 overs.

Bangs it short, on off, Brian Bennett ducks under it. That's a good over from Kwena Maphaka.

Swing and a miss! Length and outside off, with a hint of movement. Brian Bennett has a waft at it but misses.

FOUR! That's a quality shot from Brian Bennett! A touch too full, on off, Brian Bennett doesn't over hit this one. He knocks it firmly down to long on for a boundary.

Three dots in a row! Length and outside off, Brian Bennett punches it straight to the man at cover. Good areas from Kwena so far.

Past the edge! Hits the deck hard, angled across and outside off, Brian Bennett stands rooted and tries to slap it but misses again.

Kwena Maphaka goes full and outside off, Brian Bennett looks to play at it but misses.

Quicker, on leg, Ben Curran fends it back to the bowler.

FOUR MORE! Back-to-back boundaries from Ben Curran now! A bit short, on off, Ben Curran picks it well and heaves it over widish mid on for yet another boundary.

FOUR! Nicely played from Curran! Goes full again, outside off, Ben Curran latches onto it and drills it powerfully through mid on as the ball races away to the fence like a rocket.

Fullish, on leg, Brian Bennett flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Beauty! Turn and bounce, outside off, Brian Bennett backs away to create room and has a waft at it but misses.

Drops it short, outside off, Ben Curran guides it to backward point for a quick single. The fielder throws it towards the keeper but Brian Bennett was safely home.

Back of a length, on off, Brian Bennett pulls it straight towards Tony de Zorzi at mid-wicket. Ends the over with a dot ball.

Wide! Goes way outside off, Brian Bennett leaves it alone. Wided.

Fullish, on off, Brian Bennett blocks it back to the bowler.

SIX! That is some confidence from Bennett! In the slot, outside off, Brian Bennett takes a step forward and powers it high and over the bowler's head for a huge six. That just rifled off his bat like a bullet.

Bangs it short, on leg, Brian Bennett sways away from it.

Full and on off, Brian Bennett drills it to mid on. The fielder slides to his left and makes a good stop. Dot.

Good length, outside off, Brian Bennett reaches out to it and drives it through covers for a brace.

Too full, on off, Ben Curran knocks it to mid on. 15 runs off the over.

A slower one, outside off, Ben Curran looks to run it towards deep third, but misses.

SIX! How about that from Ben Curran? Full and outside off, Ben Curran picks the length early and plunders it over the bowler's head for a biggie this time.

FOUR MORE! Back-to-back boundaries from Curran now! Hits the deck hard, on off, Ben Curran latches onto it and pulls it powerfully through mid-wicket for yet another boundary.

FOUR! This is fearless cricket from the Zimbabwean openers! Length and on off, Ben Curran shuffles across and shovels it over short fine leg as the ball races away.

Duan bangs it short, on off, Brian pulls it through square leg for a single.

This one jags back in, on off, Ben Curran fends it to the left of the bowler. A tidy opening over from Eathan Bosch despite the boundary.

Fullish, outside off, Brian Bennett pushes it through point for a run.

FOUR! That is innovative from Brian Bennett! Full and outside off, Bennett moves to his off side and paddles it magnificently over short fine leg for a boundary.

Ben Curran gets off the mark! Shaping away, on off, Ben Curran dabs it to point for a quick single.

Hits the deck hard, outside off, Bennett steers it to point for a single. Brian Bennett and Zimbabwe are underway!

Good movement first up! Back of a length from Bosch, outside off, and it nips in sharply. Brian Bennett tries to punch it but gets beaten.