Zimbabwe
South Africa
South Africa will begin their T20 Tri-Series campaign against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. This series also features New Zealand, with Zimbabwe hosting all the matches. South Africa will enter the opener after a clean sweep in the 3-match Test series against Zimbabwe. Despite missing some key names, South Africa were dominant in all departments.
Zimbabwe will look to bounce back in the shorter format. However, their recent T20I form has been mixed, with just 1 win in their last 5 games. They have also had 2 losses and 2 matches that ended without a result. On the other hand, South Africa has registered 2 wins, 2 losses and 1 abandoned game in their last 5 T20Is.
In the last 5 head-to-head T20Is between these two sides, South Africa have won 3 matches. One was abandoned, and one had no result. South Africa also managed 2 successful run chases in these 3 matches.
South Africa has more wicket-taking options with experienced pacers like Lungi Ngidi and Gerald Coetzee, backed by recent form and variety in their attack.
The betting tip is...
Top Bowlers’ Team - South Africa
61 %
39 %
ZimbabweSouth AfricaZimbabwe will play their first T20I since their 1-0 series win over Ireland in February 2024. Sikandar Raza will likely lead the team again.
Over the past year, Raza has been Zimbabwe’s top performer with both bat and ball, scoring 435 runs in 16 innings and picking up 18 wickets in 14 innings. He also remains Zimbabwe’s all-time leading T20I run scorer with 2403 runs, well ahead of the next best.
Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani will add strength to the batting unit, having scored 417 and 381 runs respectively in their last 17 T20I innings. In the bowling department, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani have led the attack, claiming 18 and 16 wickets respectively in 15 innings each.
Raza, Muzarabani and Ngarava are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Wesley Madhevere, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Trevor Gwandu.
South Africa will be back in T20I action for the first time since December 2024. Rassie van der Dussen will lead the side in the absence of several key players.
Anrich Nortje will miss the series due to a back injury. Regulars like Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj will also be unavailable. Heinrich Klaasen has retired from international cricket.
Seamers Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger will return to the national team after 8 and 11 months, respectively. Lungi Ngidi and Reeza Hendricks will bring experience, while four uncapped players will be in line for debuts. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rubin Hermann, Senuran Muthusamy and Corbin Bosch are all expected to feature in this series. Dewald Brevis will strengthen the batting after returning to the T20I side.
Brevis, van der Dussen and Coetzee are the key players in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen (c), Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, George Linde, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger/Kwena Maphaka.
South Africa will start this T20I series with a stronger bowling line-up. Lungi Ngidi and Gerald Coetzee will bring their pace and experience. Nandre Burger and George Linde will offer a variation.
Zimbabwe’s batting has struggled for consistency, especially in the powerplay. Even though Sikandar Raza has been their top performer, the rest of the line-up has not done much against top-level pace attack.
South Africa’s bowlers have also done well in past head-to-head matches. With better depth and more variety in their bowling attack, South Africa will likely control the game with the ball.
Zimbabwe may find it hard to post or chase a big total if early wickets fall. South Africa will have the upper hand in this match.
