Rubin Hermann is certainly staking a solid claim to be included in the Proteas T20 plans moving towards next year’s ICC T20 World Cup in the subcontinent.
The dynamic Paarl Royals left-hander showed attributes during his T20I debut a couple of games ago, but fully unleashed his attacking repertoire against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Herman struck his maiden T20I half-century, utilising both his power game straight down the ground and his elegant touch, to ensure a comfortable seven- wicket win for the Proteas.
The only disappointment for Hermann – like in the previous game against Zimbabwe when he was livid to get out before the winning runs were struck – he left the crease for 63 off 36 balls (3×4, 4×6) with the winning runs on the table.
It might seem highly critical of a young player that had just registered his T20I career-best, but Hermann would be the first to admit that his role as the “finisher” in the absence of David Miller and the retired Heinrich Klaasen is to take the team over the line.
That was left to captain Rassie van Dussen, who shared a 126-run partnership with Hermann with the skipper playing the perfect anchor role as the youngster tore apart the Zimbabwean attack.
Van der Dussen finished unbeaten on 52 off 41 balls (6×4) as the Proteas remained on track to face the Black Caps in Saturday’s final
The hosts had earlier placed the Proteas under pressure for the first time since the visitors crossed the border close on a month ago.
Opener Brian Bennet and Ryan Burl had managed to inject momentum into the Zimbabwean innings after Corbin Bosch’s double strike in the PowerPlay.
Bosch (2/16) had earlier picked up Wesley Madhevere (14) and Clive Madande (8) to leave the hosts precariously placed at 28/2 after 5.1 overs.
After initially struggling to find his rhythm, Bennet broke the shackles by taking 13 runs off Nqaba Peter, who had earlier also picked up the big wicket of Zimbabwe captain Sikander Raza, to get his innings going.
With Bennet smashing the leg-spinner for a boundary and six over mid-wicket, it inspired Burl to follow suit in the next over when he dispatched Andile Simelane over square-leg for another maximum.
The pair added 78 runs for the fourth-wicket to resurrect Zimbabwe’s innings with Bennet moving to a 38-ball half-century in the process.
But just when he attempted to put the accelerator flat down, Lungi Ngidi intervened by firing in a leg-stump yorker to dismiss the opener for a well-played 61 off 43 balls (7×4, 3×6).
Burl (36 not out off 31 balls) tried to maintain the scoring rate, but good execution from both Bosch and Nandre Burger at the death limited Zimbabwe to a target well within the reach of the Proteas batters.
