Proteas Women captain Laura Wolvaardt delivered an outstanding performance during Tuesday's match in Bulawayo. Thanks to her unbeaten score of 126 runs and the debut five-wicket haul by all-rounder Anneri Derksen, the Proteas team defeated Zimbabwe by 80 runs in the third T20I. This victory concluded the series with a 3-0 score in the first bilateral T20I tour between the two nations in Zimbabwe.
Wolvaardt showed an impressive return to form, as she had not scored more than 50 runs since the third T20I against India in April. Coming out first, Proteas scored 200/1 in 20 overs, which was the best result of Wolvaardt's career in the T20I format. Her unbeaten score was achieved in just 62 balls, including 16 fours and four sixes at a rate of 203.22. Opening partner Mian Smith was dismissed for a low score of 8 runs, caught by Tshuma, but 18-year-old batter-keeper Karabo Meso continued playing with the captain until the end, finishing with an unbeaten 50 runs off 51 balls, and together they ensured the team maintained a continuous score above 200.
Unfortunately, Meso sustained a groin strain while chasing 201 runs from Zimbabwe and was replaced by her peer Je-Li Philander behind the wicket. When Zimbabwe attempted to chase 201 runs, the team could not recover after collapsing in the top order. Lorraine Pemhiva was removed on the third ball without getting a chance to bat, and then Proteas bowlers virtually destroyed the opposition lineup: Kelis Ndlovu, Belovud Biza, Nyasha Gwanzura, Lorin Tshuma, and Modester Mupachikiva were dismissed within the first 7.3 overs, leaving the hosts in a difficult situation at 35/6. The only real resistance during this period came from Gwanzura, who scored 28 runs off 23 balls, including six fours.
Although Christine Mutasa (19) and the eight-run partnership of 51 runs between Lorin Phiri (14) and Michelle Mavunga—whose 41 runs off 23 balls was the fastest scoring rate in the Zimbabwe match—briefly created hope, the lower order could not maintain that pace. Zimbabwe was bowled out in 19.3 overs, having scored only 120 runs, with Tendai Makusha, number 11, remaining scoreless with 4 runs. Anneri Derksen demonstrated brilliant bowling, achieving career-best figures of 5/15 in her four overs, which allowed her to dismantle the middle and lower order of Zimbabwe. The other dismissed players were distributed among Elise-Marie Marx, Ayanda Khulubi, Sesheni Naidu, and Luyando Nzuza. This result marked a clean triumph for South Africa in the series, which was dubbed historic as it was the first bilateral T20I tour between the two nations on Zimbabwean soil. The victory concluded a dominant run for Proteas Women, who had previously won the opening match thanks to Anneke Bosch's 83 runs, and then secured a win in the second T20I on Sunday.