Debutant Rubin Hermann top-scored with 45 and Dewald Brevis hit quickfire 41 to ensure Shukri Conrad’s tenure as the new Proteas white-ball coach started on a positive note with a five-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Monday.
Conrad has enjoyed great success with the Test side, climaxing in the World Test Championship Final success at Lord’s last month, but is embarking on a whole new journey with the limited-overs teams.
The 57-year-old began by fielding three debutants in top-order batters Hermann and Lhuan-dre Pretorius along with allrounder Corbin Bosch.
The latter played his part too by guiding the Proteas’ past Zimbabwe’s 141/6 with an unbeaten 23 off 15 balls.
It was, however, Conrad’s former SA U19 prodigy Dewald Brevis that made the biggest impact.
The Proteas were precariously placed at 38/3 after the dismissal of stand-in skipper Rassie van Dussen (16) towards the end of the Powerplay when Brevis walked to the crease.
The MI Cape Town starlet brought an immediate impetus to the Proteas’ innings with a flurry of boundaries. Brevis was merciless against the spin of Ryan Burl, smashing a boundary and three consecutive sixes, as he took 25 runs off the 11th over.
The momentum switched heavily in the Proteas’ favour with not even Brevis’ (41 off 17 balls, 1×4, 5×6) dismissal in the following over stemming the visitors’ march to victory.
“When I made my mark there, it was a big privilege to represent South Africa again, and that was what was going through my head. It was super fun, and I am glad we won,” Brevis said.
“I am just watching the ball and wherever the ball goes, it needs to go, irrespective of the size of the boundary.”
Brevis and Hermann shared a 72-run partnership off just 37 balls, which ate chunks out of the Proteas’ eventual successful run-chase.
“It was quite clear. We were in an interesting position, but we were only a few boundaries away. It wasn’t a big total we chased. There was no need to rush anything or go searching – plan was to keep it simple and play our game,” he added.
Hermann’s contribution should not be undervalued too for the left-hander, despite being on his international debut, provided a calming influence in the middle-order after the early wickets.
The left-hander showed silly touches, utilising the sweep to good effect against the spinners, and also drilled some powerful drives straight down the ground before his off-stump was uprooted by a brilliant Richard Ngarava delivery.
The left-arm seamer finished with excellent figures of 3/35 after earlier picking up both Pretorius (0) and Reeza Hendricks (11).
Zimbabwe, however, needed more from their support bowlers after their batting unit delivered a below-par total on a sluggish Harare Sports Club surface.
Left-arm spinner George Linde was excellent for the Proteas with figures of 3/10, while seamer Nandre Burger (1/22) also made an impressive comeback after a 10-month international absence
Zimbabwe captain Sikander Raza’s experience shone though with the skipper striking an unbeaten 54 off 38 balls (3×4, 2×6), while Brian Bennett (30) and Burl (29) also made worthwhile contributions, but unfortunately it was not enough for the home team on the day.
The Proteas will be in action again on Wednesday when the face New Zealand in the second match of the T20I Tri-Series.
