Cape Town - The Proteas clinched the three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe with a six wicket victory in the second T20 at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Friday evening.
As it happened: Proteas v Zimbabwe - 2nd T20
Dane Paterson and Robbie Frylinck celebrated their return to the Proteas starting line-up with two wickets apiece at minimal cost to lay the foundation for a comfortable victory with 26 balls to spare for their side.
The victory clinched the series for the Proteas who now hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with just the final match of the tour to come at Willowmoore Park on Sunday (14:00 start).
The pair, making their first appearances of the series, had combined figures of 4/42 from 8 overs with Frylinck's return of 2/20 being a career best.
They were largely responsible for restricting Zimbabwe, who had won the toss, to 32/2 in the power play and they were equally effective at the death with the visitors only able to score 31/3 in their final five overs at the death.
Zimbabwe once again lost too many wickets too cheaply up front with only Sean Williams, their outstanding batsman of the tour, making much of a show with his innings of 41 (28 balls, 2 fours and 3 sixes) with all 3 sixes coming from one Tabraiz Shamsi over.
In spite of some inconsistency in the pitch's bounce their total of 132 was never going to be enough to test the Proteas who cantered home in spite of losing wickets at regular intervals.
JP Duminy with top score of 33 not out (26 balls, 3 fours and a six) and David Miller saw them safely over the line.
Williams completed a good all-round performance by taking 2/25 in 3 overs and the match confirmed that Zimbabwe have an emerging talent of great ability in Brandon Mavuta.
With most of Zimbabwe's senior players comfortably into their 30s, Mavuta is going to have to lead Zimbabwe going forward and he will be an asset to the many T20 leagues around the world.
Paterson was named man-of-the-match.
Teams:
South Africa
Quinton De Kock (wicket-keeper), Heinrich Klaasen, Faf Du Plessis (captain), JP Duminy, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi, Dane Paterson, Robbie Frylinck
Zimbabwe
Hamilton Masakadza (captain), Solomon Mire, Brendan Taylor (wicket-keeper), Tarisai Musakanda, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Brandon Mavuta, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chisoro, Chris Mpofu