Miané Smit shone with the bat to help guide the Proteas Women to a superb 80-run triumph in the fourth T20 International (T20I) against Zimbabwe, extending their lead to 4-0 in the five-match series, at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
Smit notched up her maiden international century, scoring 102 off 59 deliveries, including 15 fours and one six, as the touring side posted 205/4 in their allotted 20 overs, and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
Zimbabwe were comfortably kept at bay with the ball, with Caitlin Wyngaard leading the charge with figures of two for 15 as the home side were restricted to 125/5 after 20 overs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, South Africa got off to a splendid start through openers Smit and Anneke Bosch (33). The pair put on an impressive 74-run stand to put the visitors in control before Nyasha Gwanzura (1/38) broke the partnership, with Bosch caught in the ninth over.
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That wicket did little to slow down Smit. The 21-year-old teamed up with Annerie Dercksen (33), who was in an explosive mood herself, as the pair combined for a 62-run stand for the second wicket, during which Smit raised her bat for her half-century.
With South Africa cruising on 136/1 after 14 overs, Zimbabwe fought back with two important wickets. Loryn Phiri (1/29) dismissed Dercksen before Francisca Chipare (1/43) got the better of Kayla Reyneke (18) to reduce the Proteas Women to 168/3 in the 18th over.
Despite losing partners at the other end, Smit pressed on to bring up her first international century, becoming the fifth South African to record a hundred in women’s T20Is.
The right-hander was the final wicket to fall, run out by Nomvelo Sibanda off the last ball of the 19th over with 195 on the board, as South Africa finished on a formidable 205/4 after 20 overs.
With ball in hand, it took the Proteas Women just 10 deliveries to make the breakthrough as Eliz-Mari Marx (1/24) removed the dangerous Gwanzura for five in the second over.
Wyngaard soon picked up her first T20 International wicket late in the powerplay, rearranging Lorraine Pemhiwa’s (8) furniture to help restrict the Lady Chevrons to 27/2 after six overs.
Kelis Ndhlovu (16) and Beloved Biza (32) stuck it out for the next four overs before Luyanda Nzuza (1/20) dismissed Ndhlovu in the tenth over, leaving the hosts 51/3 at the halfway mark.
Biza and Josephine Nkomo (26*) then added 36 runs for the fourth wicket before the former was run out through the combination of Reyneke and debutant wicketkeeper Jae-Leigh Filander, leaving Zimbabwe on 87/4 in the 17th over. Nkomo led Zimbabwe for the first time in the series, returning from injury to take the captaincy back from Sibanda, who had stood in for the opening three matches.
Michelle Mavunga struck three boundaries late on, contributing 25 runs to help the hosts pass the 100-run mark before she fell to Wyngaard on the penultimate delivery of the innings as Zimbabwe finished on 125/5.
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The fifth and final T20I will get underway at 13h30 on Saturday, 19 September 2026 at the Queens Sports Club, with the action streamed live on Cricket South Africa’s YouTube channel.
The Zimbabwe Women vs. Proteas Women T20 International Series at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Fri 11 Sept: Proteas Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 6 wickets
Sun 13 Sept: Proteas Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 64 runs
Tue 15 Sept: Proteas Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 80 runs
Thu 17 Sept: Proteas Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 80 runs
Sat 19 Sept, 13h30: Zimbabwe Women vs. Proteas Women
Proteas Women Playing XI
1. Miané Smit
2. Anneke Bosch
3. Annerie Dercksen
4. Kayla Reyneke
5. Nondumiso Shangase
6. Laura Wolvaardt (Captain)
7. Eliz-Mari Marx
8. Luyanda Nzuza
9. Jae-Leigh Filander (Wicketkeeper, debut)
10. Caitlin Wyngaard
11. Ayanda Hlubi
Reserves
12. Karabo Meso
13. Seshnie Naidu
14. Faye Tunnicliffe
15. Nthabiseng Nini
Zimbabwe Women Playing XI
1. Nyasha Gwanzura
2. Lorraine Pemhiwa
3. Kelis Ndhlovu
4. Beloved Biza
5. Josephine Nkomo (Captain)
6. Michelle Mavunga
7. Christine Mutasa
8. Modester Mupachikwa (Wicketkeeper)
9. Loryn Phiri
10. Nomvelo Sibanda
11. Francisca Chipare
Reserves
12. Lindokuhle Mabhero
13. Kudzai Chigora
14. Sharne Mayers
15. Chipo Mugeri
Original Copy: Cricket South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Miané Smit struck a maiden international century to become the fifth South African woman to reach three figures in a T20 International, as the Proteas Women completed an 80-run victory in the fourth T20 International to extend their lead to 4-0 in the five-match series against Zimbabwe, at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Thursday, 17 September 2026. All Photos: Zimbabwe Cricket
Photo 2 Caption: Caitlin Wyngaard bowled Lorraine Pemhiwa for a maiden international wicket, then bowled Michelle Mavunga to finish with two for 15.
Photo 3 Caption: Jae-Leigh Filander kept wicket on debut and combined with Kayla Reyneke for a run-out that ended a Zimbabwe fourth-wicket stand.
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