(ESPNCRICINFO) – Corbin Bosch and Nandre Burger stifled Zimbabwe with the ball, and rookie Rubin Hermann struck his maiden T20I fifty to secure South Africa’s place in the T20I tri-series final – while knocking the hosts out – in a seven-wicket win in Harare.

Zimbabwe’s total of 144 for 6 was too little to trouble South Africa. Their third loss in as many outings also makes the last two league games dead rubbers. South Africa and New Zealand, both on four points, have their spots in the final assured with Zimbabwe still on zero points with one more fixture remaining for them.
It was another insipid batting display from Zimbabwe after Rassie van der Dussen opted to bowl first. They posted the lowest powerplay score of the tri-series and managed just 55 for 3 in the first ten overs. Only Brian Bennett’s counterattacking 61 gave the innings a degree of respectability.
South Africa then overcame an early stutter in the chase courtesy of Hermann’s 63 and van der Dussen’s 52 not out. They won with 16 balls to spare.

Bennett turns it around
Bennett faced only 10 balls in the powerplay and was starved of strike as Zimbabwe crawled to 29 for 2 in six overs. His first boundary came in the eighth over, a back-foot cut off George Linde, and he finally blossomed during a 78-run fourth-wicket stand with Ryan Burl that gave the innings some direction.

Legspinner Nqaba Peter bore the brunt of Bennett’s charge, hit over his head and past deep square leg for fours, then over wide long-on for a six that landed on the roof of the Sports Club. Linde, brought on to stem the flow, couldn’t halt the assault either: Bennett cut him behind square for four and launched a six onto the midwicket grass banks in the 13th over, then repeated the four-six combo in the 15th. The second six, that just cleared long-off, brought up Bennett’s half-century off 38 balls.

He then got away with a thick edge for four off Ngidi and followed it with a Douglas Marillier-style ramp past short fine leg. But Ngidi had the final word, bowling him with a slower yorker off the last ball of the 16th. Bennett’s 61 off 43 helped Zimbabwe add 60 runs between overs 11 and 16.

Bosch earns the rewards
Bosch capitalised on early pressure from Ngidi and Nandre Burger, with Zimbabwe crawling to 17 in the first three overs.
Brought in for the fourth over, Bosch struck with his third ball – a full delivery on middle stump – dismissing Wessly Madhevere caught at mid-off. In the next over, he bowled short and angled into Clive Madande, who spooned a catch back to the bowler.