Zimbabwe lose first T20 against South Africa

Graeme Smith smashed a half-century in his first game after resigning the Twenty20 captaincy to guide South Africa to a seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe at the OUTsurance Oval on Friday.

Smith made 58 off 33 balls, with 48 of those runs in boundaries, as the Proteas raced to 169-3 to pass Zimbabwe's 168-4 in just 15.5 overs.

Smith and Loots Bosman produced a 90-run opening partnership and David Miller (36 not out) and JP Duminy (35 not out) carried South Africa home to give Smith's successor, Johan Botha, a winning start.

South Africa takes a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20 series. The countries also play three one-dayers.

"I wanted to help Johan get off to a good start with his captaincy and lead with the bat and hopefully I did that," man-of-the-match Smith said. "It's a big year for us. six months to the World Cup and I really wanted to start well. Hopefully it will continue."

Earlier, the South Africans had given a rusty performance in the field in their season-opener as Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha made half-centuries for Zimbabwe. Chibhabha was dropped twice and South Africa also missed a string of run-out chances.

Masakadza top-scored with 72 to lead the Zimbabweans to a decent total.

But the left-handed Smith kicked off his season with nine fours and two sixes as he and Bosman punished a frail Zimbabwe bowling attack. Smith reached his fifth half-century in Twenty20 matches with a slog-sweep over midwicket for six.

Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer trapped him lbw trying to sweep again soon after. South Africa lost three wickets for just nine runs as Smith, Bosman and debutant Colin Ingram, who made three, fell in the space of 10 balls.

But Miller and Duminy played fluently for a 70-run partnership and South Africa won with more than four overs to spare.

The Proteas also handed an international debut to bowler Juan Theron, who starred for finalists Warriors in the recent Champions League Twenty20. Theron returned 1-33, clattering into Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura's stumps with a trademark inswinging yorker for his first wicket in international cricket.

The only worry for the Proteas was an injury to fast bowler Morne Morkel. He impressed with two overs for just nine runs before turning an ankle.