Mitchell van Buuren and Daniel Smith hit unbeaten half-centuries as SA Emerging cruised to a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe Emerging in Pretoria on Monday.
It saw the hosts take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match one-day series.
Captain Van Buuren struck one six and eight fours in his 69* off 66 balls, while wicketkeeper Smith lashed two sixes and 10 boundaries in his 71-ball 78 – the pair combining for an unbroken 150-run partnership that took SA Emerging to their 245-run victory target with 7.4 overs to spare at the Groenkloof Oval.
Earlier it was Nealan van Heerden (3-38), Peter Nqaba (3-38) and Jordan Hermann (3-17) who played a key hand for the home side as they shared six wickets to restrict the tourists to 244 all out.
Wesley Madhevere (67 off 94 balls, four fours) and Clive Madande (81 off 94 balls, three fours, four sixes) were the two men to shine for the visitors, but their efforts proved to be a consolation.
The performance by Malibongwe Maketa’s charges was especially impressive considering they lost the opening match heavily just over a week ago. But they have hit back well and again proved to too good for their opponents.
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After winning the toss and bowling, the home side claimed four wickets inside the opening hour to leave the visitors on 63-4 inside 13 overs.
But Madhevere and Madande rebuilt excellently with a partnership worth 135 for the fifth wicket to propel their side into a strong position at 198-4 with nearly 15 overs to go.
However, Nqaba removed the former and latter was taken out by Hermann to open up the game for the South Africans again and they took full advantage.
They finished strongly to claim the last six wickets for 46 runs, setting the visitors on the back foot.
The hosts suffered an early blow when the in-form Hermann fell in the second over for one, but Joshua Richards (38) and Valentine Kitime (27) added 55 for the next wicket to set them on their way.
Although both fell before 100 was reached, together with George van Heerden (13), the tourists could do little to dislodge Van Buuren and Smith.
The two put on 150 together in 22.2 overs to seal an excellent win for the home team.
