19|09|2026

by Scent Senti

South Africa completed a 5–0 T20I series whitewash over Zimbabwe after securing a 14-run victory in the fifth and final match at Queens Park Oval in Bulawayo.

 

Nthabiseng Nini, Ayanda Hlubi and Caitlin Wyngaard played key roles as the Proteas held their nerve in the closest encounter of the series.

 

Batting first, South Africa opened with recent centurion Miane Smit and Faye Tunnicliffe. Tunnicliffe, the more aggressive of the two openers, scored 25 before she was dismissed by Michelle Mavunga with the Proteas on 37/1.

 

Karabo Meso joined Smit at the crease and the pair added 37 runs for the second wicket before both were dismissed on 69. Nyasha Gwanzura removed Meso for six, while Beloved Biza accounted for Smit, who made 30.

 

South African Captain Laura Wolvaardt lasted just seven runs before Kudzai Chigora dismissed her, leaving the Proteas in a tricky position. However, Kayla Reyneke and Anneke Bosch steadied the innings with a crucial 75-run fifth-wicket partnership.

 

Bosch contributed 33 before her dismissal, while Reyneke remained unbeaten on 34 as South Africa reached 164/6 from their 20 overs. Mavunga was Zimbabwe's leading bowler, finishing with 3/46 from her four overs.

 

Zimbabwe made a positive start to the chase before Gwanzura was trapped lbw by Hlubi for 16 off nine balls. Nini then dismissed Lorraine Pamhiwa for six, leaving Zimbabwe on 22/2.

 

Kelis Ndhlovu and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano then produced Zimbabwe's best partnership of the series, adding 90 runs from 60 balls, giving the hosts a good foundation after the early dismissal of the Zimbabwean openers.

 

Wyngaard eventually broke the partnership by bowling Mugeri-Tiripano for 33. Hlubi struck again soon afterwards, dismissing Ndhlovu for a match-high 38 before removing Biza without scoring.

 

Sharne Meyers and Josephine Nkomo kept Zimbabwe's fight, scoring 19 and 11 respectively, but both fell to Nini, unfortunately.

 

Zimbabwe eventually finished on 150/8, falling 14 runs short of South Africa's target. Nini finished with figures of 3/19, while Hlubi took 3/24 to help seal the victory and complete South Africa's 5–0 series sweep.