Maine Smit batted with control and composure to register her maiden T20I century and set South Africa Women up for an emphatic 80-run win over Zimbabwe Women at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on Thursday afternoon.
South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, won the toss and chose to bat first. Smit took control of the innings and steered the visitors to 205/4. Zimbabwe struggled to develop any momentum and ended up with 125/5 in 20 overs.
CENTURY CLUB 💯🇿🇦
— Proteas Women (@ProteasWomenCSA) September 17, 2026
A century to remember from Miané Smit! 👏🏏
A sensational maiden T20I century for #TheProteas Women. What an inninga, Miané! 👊#Unbreakable pic.twitter.com/n1iGvcirZ5
Smit, who stayed in the middle for 19 overs, scored an outstanding 59-ball 102 (15x4s, 1x6). The 21-year-old reached the milestone in 58 deliveries. She lost her wicket after she was run out off the next ball she faced after registering her maiden ton. The opener was part of two partnerships worth more than 50 runs apiece as she pushed the visitors to a winning total.
The first one was a 74-run opening stand with Anneke Bosch (33). The pair withstood a good spell of bowling by Zimbabwe in the first two overs before shifting pressure onto the bowlers. The duo showed great adaptability in their approach. Their partnership was succeeded by Smit's barnstorming 62-run second-wicket partnership with Annerie Dercksen.
The 25-year-old, who wasn't required to do much with the bat so far in the series, walked in at No 3 and took the Zimbabwean bowling attack head on. The allrounder raced to a 16-ball 33. Her high impact knock destabilised Zimbabwe’s bowling performance. Dercksen’s knock took pressure off Smit.
Smit's tally of 102 was a mere 23 runs less than Zimbabwe's total. The hosts needed someone like her to construct their innings around. Unfortunately, South Africa took wickets on both sides of the wicket at regular intervals. Beloved Biza painstakingly worked her way to a patient 32 from 33 balls. At the time of her dismissal, Zimbabwe needed 119 runs from 22 balls. Biza was the hosts' top-scorer. Josephine Nkomo (26*) and Michelle Mavunga (25) kept fans interested with a 38-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Caitlin Wyngaard was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa with two wickets for 15 runs in three overs. Luyanda Nzuza and Eliz-Mari Marx were the other wicket-takers with a single wicket each.
South Africa has now won all four matches played so far in the series. They will be eyeing a whitewash in the final encounter scheduled for Saturday, 13 September. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, will be desperate to get a consolation win under their belt.
ZIMBABWE: Nyasha Gwanzura, Lorraine Pemhiwa, Kelis Ndhlovu, Josephine Nkomo (capt), Beloved Biza, Modester Mupachikwa (wk), Loryn Phiri, Michelle Mavunga, Christina Mutasa, Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare.
SOUTH AFRICA: Anneke Bosch, Miané Smit, Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, Nondumiso Shangase, Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Eliz-Mari Marx, Luyanda Nzuza, Jae-Leigh Filander (wk), Caitlin Wyngaard, Ayanda Hlubi.