Covers 43 matches between Zimbabwe and South Africa from Jun 2003 to Sep 2026 (Tests, ODIs and T20Is with ball-by-ball records).
Forty-two wins, no defeats: that is South Africa’s side of the Zimbabwe vs South Africa head to head, a record that stretches over 43 matches from Jun 2003 to Sep 2026. The only game they did not win was a T20I at Hobart on 24 Oct 2022 that ended with no result.
So this page is less about who wins and more about how. It shows the margins, the batters who cashed in and the few Zimbabwe players who stood up. For each team’s wider record, see South Africa cricket team records and Zimbabwe cricket team records.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa Timeline: A Clean Sweep in Every Format
South Africa have won all 6 Tests since Mar 2005, all 25 ODIs since Jun 2003 and 11 of 12 T20Is since Oct 2010. There has not been a draw or a tie in any format.
The Tests show how the gap has moved. The first two, in Mar 2005, were both innings wins, by an innings and 21 runs and then by an innings and 62 runs. The latest two, both at Bulawayo in Jun and Jul 2025, were won by 328 runs and by an innings and 236 runs, the second being the biggest Test win in the data.
ODI results have depended little on the toss or the innings order. Teams batting first won 15 and chasers 10, all of them South African wins, and calling correctly at the toss turned into a win just 8 times in 25. First innings have averaged 263. The ODI series has been quiet since Oct 2018, while the T20Is picked up again with 6 games from Jul 2025 to Sep 2026, every one a South African win.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa Head to Head Record in All Formats
Format
Matches
Zimbabwe won
South Africa won
Tied
Drawn
NR
First match
Latest match
Tests
6
0
6
0
0
0
4 Mar 2005
6 Jul 2025
ODIs
25
0
25
0
–
0
29 Jun 2003
6 Oct 2018
T20Is
12
0
11
0
–
1
8 Oct 2010
6 Sep 2026
All formats
43
0
42
0
0
1
29 Jun 2003
6 Sep 2026
Zimbabwe vs South Africa in Tests
Tests in this record book: 6, from Mar 2005 to Jul 2025.
Most Runs in Zimbabwe vs South Africa Tests
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
PWA Mulder South Africa
2
3
531
367*
265.50
90.46
2
0
SC Williams Zimbabwe
3
6
284
137
56.80
94.67
1
1
LG Pretorius South Africa
2
3
235
153
78.33
92.89
1
1
AB de Villiers South Africa
4
4
205
98
51.25
70.69
0
2
H Masakadza Zimbabwe
4
8
202
47
25.25
50.25
0
0
CR Ervine Zimbabwe
3
6
178
49
29.67
46.72
0
0
GC Smith South Africa
2
2
162
121
81.00
105.88
1
0
AG Prince South Africa
1
1
139
139*
–
63.76
1
0
C Bosch South Africa
1
2
136
100*
136.00
82.42
1
0
BRM Taylor Zimbabwe
4
8
135
93
16.88
54.66
0
1
Most wickets in Tests
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
JH Kallis South Africa
2
4
11
4/13
9.64
2.13
0
Codi Yusuf South Africa
2
4
10
3/22
12.20
2.60
0
C Bosch South Africa
2
4
10
5/43
13.90
2.96
1
M Zondeki South Africa
1
2
9
6/39
11.67
2.96
1
KA Maharaj South Africa
2
3
9
5/59
22.22
3.44
1
DW Steyn South Africa
1
2
8
5/46
10.50
1.91
1
M Morkel South Africa
2
4
8
5/21
10.88
1.78
1
DL Piedt South Africa
1
2
8
4/62
19.00
3.10
0
AG Cremer Zimbabwe
3
3
8
3/86
32.25
4.79
0
TL Chivanga Zimbabwe
2
3
8
4/83
33.88
4.84
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
PWA Mulder South Africa
367*
334
49
4
6 Jul 2025
LG Pretorius South Africa
153
160
11
4
28 Jun 2025
PWA Mulder South Africa
147
206
17
2
28 Jun 2025
AG Prince South Africa
139*
218
18
2
11 Mar 2005
SC Williams Zimbabwe
137
164
16
0
28 Jun 2025
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
M Zondeki South Africa
6/39
14.3
11 Mar 2005
M Morkel South Africa
5/21
11
26 Dec 2017
C Bosch South Africa
5/43
12
28 Jun 2025
DW Steyn South Africa
5/46
22.4
9 Aug 2014
KA Maharaj South Africa
5/59
17.3
26 Dec 2017
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
626/5
114
Zimbabwe
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
6 Jul 2025
South Africa
480/7
109.5
Zimbabwe
SuperSport Park, Centurion
11 Mar 2005
South Africa
418/9
90
Zimbabwe
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
28 Jun 2025
South Africa
397
158.3
Zimbabwe
Harare Sports Club, Harare
9 Aug 2014
South Africa
369
82.5
Zimbabwe
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
28 Jun 2025
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Zimbabwe
54
31.2
South Africa
Newlands, Cape Town
4 Mar 2005
Zimbabwe
68
30.1
South Africa
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
26 Dec 2017
Zimbabwe
121
42.3
South Africa
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
26 Dec 2017
Zimbabwe
149
59.3
South Africa
SuperSport Park, Centurion
11 Mar 2005
Zimbabwe
170
43
South Africa
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
6 Jul 2025
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
South Africa won by an innings and 236 runs
Test
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
6 Jul 2025
South Africa won by an innings and 120 runs
Test
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
26 Dec 2017
South Africa won by an innings and 62 runs
Test
SuperSport Park, Centurion
11 Mar 2005
South Africa won by 328 runs
Test
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
28 Jun 2025
South Africa won by 9 wickets
Test
Harare Sports Club, Harare
9 Aug 2014
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
6 Jul 2025
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
South Africa won by an innings and 236 runs
28 Jun 2025
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
South Africa won by 328 runs
26 Dec 2017
St George’s Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
South Africa won by an innings and 120 runs
9 Aug 2014
Harare Sports Club, Harare
South Africa won by 9 wickets
11 Mar 2005
SuperSport Park, Centurion
South Africa won by an innings and 62 runs
4 Mar 2005
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa won by an innings and 21 runs
Zimbabwe vs South Africa in ODIs
ODIs in this record book: 25, from Jun 2003 to Oct 2018.
Most Runs in Zimbabwe vs South Africa ODIs
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
JP Duminy South Africa
19
19
685
129
76.11
92.82
3
2
BRM Taylor Zimbabwe
22
22
587
145*
29.35
70.55
1
1
GC Smith South Africa
12
12
586
117
48.83
92.14
1
5
HM Amla South Africa
9
9
552
122*
69.00
92.93
3
2
H Masakadza Zimbabwe
22
22
537
80
24.41
69.83
0
3
AB de Villiers South Africa
13
13
527
109
47.91
104.36
3
2
T Taibu Zimbabwe
13
13
508
107*
50.80
84.95
2
2
E Chigumbura Zimbabwe
20
20
389
90
20.47
69.09
0
2
SC Williams Zimbabwe
17
17
376
69
23.50
74.90
0
4
F du Plessis South Africa
7
7
340
121
48.57
84.16
1
2
Most Wickets in Zimbabwe vs South Africa ODIs
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
Imran Tahir South Africa
7
7
19
6/24
12.05
3.94
1
P Utseya Zimbabwe
19
19
19
5/36
48.63
5.37
1
DW Steyn South Africa
7
7
15
3/29
19.20
4.72
0
WD Parnell South Africa
7
7
13
3/28
21.85
4.90
0
M Ntini South Africa
8
8
13
4/45
23.15
4.19
0
J Theron South Africa
3
3
11
5/44
11.27
5.10
1
R McLaren South Africa
6
6
11
3/21
16.45
4.11
0
JA Morkel South Africa
8
8
11
3/20
25.82
5.26
0
AJ Hall South Africa
6
6
10
3/23
17.10
3.23
0
TL Chatara Zimbabwe
6
6
10
3/42
24.20
5.08
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
MV Boucher South Africa
147*
68
8
10
20 Sep 2006
BRM Taylor Zimbabwe
145*
136
12
0
15 Oct 2010
DA Miller South Africa
138*
92
7
9
15 Feb 2015
JP Duminy South Africa
129
117
7
4
22 Oct 2010
JH Kallis South Africa
125*
147
14
1
29 Jun 2003
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
Imran Tahir South Africa
6/24
6
3 Oct 2018
P Utseya Zimbabwe
5/36
10
29 Aug 2014
J Theron South Africa
5/44
8.2
17 Oct 2010
M Ntini South Africa
4/45
10
10 Jul 2003
SW Masakadza Zimbabwe
4/86
10
15 Oct 2010
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
418/5
50
Zimbabwe
Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom
20 Sep 2006
South Africa
399/6
50
Zimbabwe
Willowmoore Park, Benoni
22 Oct 2010
South Africa
351/6
50
Zimbabwe
OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein
15 Oct 2010
South Africa
339/4
50
Zimbabwe
Seddon Park, Hamilton
15 Feb 2015
South Africa
331/5
50
Zimbabwe
SuperSport Park, Centurion
10 Nov 2009
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Zimbabwe
78
24
South Africa
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
3 Oct 2018
Zimbabwe
117
34.1
South Africa
Diamond Oval, Kimberley
30 Sep 2018
Zimbabwe
119
34.3
South Africa
SuperSport Park, Centurion
10 Nov 2009
Zimbabwe
127
29
South Africa
Willowmoore Park, Benoni
22 Oct 2010
Zimbabwe
136
37.2
South Africa
The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
25 Feb 2005
Biggest Wins in Zimbabwe vs South Africa ODIs
Result
Format
Venue
Date
South Africa won by 272 runs
ODI
Willowmoore Park, Benoni
22 Oct 2010
South Africa won by 212 runs
ODI
SuperSport Park, Centurion
10 Nov 2009
South Africa won by 171 runs
ODI
Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom
20 Sep 2006
South Africa won by 8 wickets
ODI
Harare Sports Club, Harare
25 Aug 2007
South Africa won by 8 wickets
ODI
Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
17 Oct 2010
South Africa won by 7 wickets
ODI
The Rose Bowl, Southampton
10 Jul 2003
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
6 Oct 2018
Boland Park, Paarl
South Africa won by 4 wickets
3 Oct 2018
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
South Africa won by 120 runs
30 Sep 2018
Diamond Oval, Kimberley
South Africa won by 5 wickets
15 Feb 2015
Seddon Park, Hamilton
South Africa won by 62 runs
4 Sep 2014
Harare Sports Club, Harare
South Africa won by 63 runs
29 Aug 2014
Harare Sports Club, Harare
South Africa won by 61 runs
21 Aug 2014
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
South Africa won by 7 wickets
19 Aug 2014
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
South Africa won by 61 runs
17 Aug 2014
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
South Africa won by 93 runs
22 Oct 2010
Willowmoore Park, Benoni
South Africa won by 272 runs
Zimbabwe vs South Africa in T20Is
T20Is in this record book: 12, from Oct 2010 to Sep 2026.
Most runs in T20Is
Batter
M
Inns
Runs
HS
Avg
SR
100s
50s
D Brevis South Africa
6
6
244
75*
61.00
196.77
0
1
Sikandar Raza Zimbabwe
7
7
207
73
34.50
126.99
0
2
JP Duminy South Africa
3
3
164
96*
–
160.78
0
1
BJ Bennett Zimbabwe
6
6
159
61
26.50
120.45
0
1
RA Herman South Africa
5
5
147
63
36.75
148.48
0
1
DA Miller South Africa
5
5
141
39
47.00
130.56
0
0
HE van der Dussen South Africa
4
4
137
56
45.67
129.25
0
2
LG Pretorius South Africa
4
4
120
94
30.00
166.67
0
1
CJ Chibhabha Zimbabwe
3
3
114
59
38.00
146.15
0
2
BRM Taylor Zimbabwe
5
5
111
59
22.20
104.72
0
1
Most wickets in T20Is
Bowler
M
Inns
Wkts
Best
Avg
Econ
5w
D Jansen South Africa
3
3
9
3/21
11.56
9.45
0
BC Fortuin South Africa
3
3
8
4/24
9.12
6.26
0
L Ngidi South Africa
6
6
8
2/20
17.00
6.48
0
B Evans Zimbabwe
4
4
6
2/33
18.33
8.05
0
Imran Tahir South Africa
1
1
5
5/23
4.60
5.75
1
JH Kallis South Africa
1
1
4
4/15
3.75
3.75
0
GF Linde South Africa
3
3
4
3/10
16.25
7.22
0
R Ngarava Zimbabwe
3
3
4
3/35
18.25
8.11
0
P Utseya Zimbabwe
3
3
4
2/28
20.50
8.34
0
KT Maphaka South Africa
4
4
4
2/21
21.75
6.21
0
Highest individual scores
Batter
Score
Balls
4s
6s
Date
JP Duminy South Africa
96*
54
10
4
10 Oct 2010
LG Pretorius South Africa
94
51
12
3
1 Sep 2026
D Brevis South Africa
75*
32
7
6
29 Aug 2026
Sikandar Raza Zimbabwe
73
43
8
4
1 Mar 2026
H Masakadza Zimbabwe
72
63
7
2
8 Oct 2010
Best bowling in an innings
Bowler
Figures
Overs
Date
Imran Tahir South Africa
5/23
4
9 Oct 2018
JH Kallis South Africa
4/15
4
20 Sep 2012
BC Fortuin South Africa
4/24
3.4
1 Sep 2026
GF Linde South Africa
3/10
3
14 Jul 2025
W Madhevere Zimbabwe
3/20
3
1 Sep 2026
Highest team totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
South Africa
205/5
20
Zimbabwe
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
6 Sep 2026
South Africa
194/6
20
Zimbabwe
De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
10 Oct 2010
Zimbabwe
186/7
20
South Africa
De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
10 Oct 2010
South Africa
185/7
20
Zimbabwe
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
1 Sep 2026
South Africa
169/3
15.5
Zimbabwe
OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein
8 Oct 2010
Lowest all-out totals
Team
Total
Overs
Against
Venue
Date
Zimbabwe
126
17.2
South Africa
Buffalo Park, East London
9 Oct 2018
Zimbabwe
142
17.4
South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
1 Sep 2026
Zimbabwe
157
18
South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
6 Sep 2026
Biggest wins
Result
Format
Venue
Date
South Africa won by 48 runs
T20I
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
6 Sep 2026
South Africa won by 43 runs
T20I
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
1 Sep 2026
South Africa won by 34 runs
T20I
Buffalo Park, East London
9 Oct 2018
South Africa won by 10 wickets
T20I
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
20 Sep 2012
South Africa won by 7 wickets
T20I
OUTsurance Oval, Bloemfontein
8 Oct 2010
South Africa won by 7 wickets
T20I
Harare Sports Club, Harare
20 Jul 2025
Latest results
Date
Venue
Result
6 Sep 2026
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
South Africa won by 48 runs
1 Sep 2026
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
South Africa won by 43 runs
29 Aug 2026
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
South Africa won by 7 wickets
1 Mar 2026
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
South Africa won by 5 wickets
20 Jul 2025
Harare Sports Club, Harare
South Africa won by 7 wickets
14 Jul 2025
Harare Sports Club, Harare
South Africa won by 5 wickets
24 Oct 2022
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
No result
12 Oct 2018
Senwes Park, Potchefstroom
South Africa won by 6 wickets
9 Oct 2018
Buffalo Park, East London
South Africa won by 34 runs
20 Sep 2012
Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
South Africa won by 10 wickets
Most player of the match awards in Zimbabwe vs South Africa matches
One innings dominates the Test list. PWA Mulder (South Africa) made 367* from 334 deliveries in Bulawayo on 6 Jul 2025, with 49 fours, as South Africa piled up 626/5. With 147 in the previous Test, he has 531 runs from just 3 innings, an average of 265.50.
In ODIs, JP Duminy (South Africa) is top of the list on 685, averaging 76.11 with 3 centuries. MV Boucher (South Africa) smashed 147* from just 68 balls, clearing the rope 10 times, in South Africa’s 418/5 at Potchefstroom in Sep 2006. Imran Tahir (South Africa) claimed 19 ODI wickets for 12.05 apiece, best 6/24, and also owns the best T20I return, 5/23.
Zimbabwe’s best efforts came from BRM Taylor, whose 145* in Oct 2010 is second on the ODI list, and SC Williams, with 284 Test runs including 137 in Jun 2025. P Utseya (Zimbabwe) matched Tahir’s 19 ODI wickets, though at 48.63 apiece.
Grounds and Lowest Totals
Harare Sports Club has staged the most matches, 7, and South Africa won all of them. Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is next with 6, again all South African wins. Three T20Is were played at a neutral ground in Windhoek in Aug and Sep 2026.
Zimbabwe’s lowest total is 54 all out at Newlands on 4 Mar 2005. They also fell for 68 at St George’s Park in Dec 2017 and for 78 in the ODI at Bloemfontein on 3 Oct 2018. South Africa’s biggest ODI win is by 272 runs at Benoni in Oct 2010.
Questions about Zimbabwe vs South Africa
Has Zimbabwe ever beaten South Africa?
Not in the 43 matches in this record book, which start in Jun 2003. South Africa won 42 and the other, a T20I at Hobart on 24 Oct 2022, was a no result. Results before Jun 2003 are not covered here.
What was the last Zimbabwe vs South Africa match?
The latest is a T20I played in Windhoek on 6 Sep 2026. South Africa made 205/5, their best T20I total in this match-up, and won by 48 runs. The last Test was at Bulawayo on 6 Jul 2025, won by South Africa by an innings and 236 runs.
Which batters have the most runs in Zimbabwe vs South Africa games?
In ODIs, JP Duminy (South Africa) leads with 685. In Tests, PWA Mulder (South Africa) leads with 531, and D Brevis (South Africa) is the T20I leader, 244 runs scored at 196.77 per 100 balls. BRM Taylor’s 587 is the most by a Zimbabwe batter in ODIs.
What is the top Test score between Zimbabwe and South Africa?
PWA Mulder’s 367* in Bulawayo in Jul 2025 is the individual best, and South Africa’s 626/5 in the same game is the team record. SC Williams’s 137 is the best Zimbabwe score in the Tests covered.
Who has taken the most wickets in Zimbabwe vs South Africa ODIs?
Imran Tahir (South Africa) and P Utseya (Zimbabwe) share the lead with 19 each. Tahir needed only 7 matches and averaged 12.05, while Utseya played 19. Tahir’s 6/24 on 3 Oct 2018 is the best ODI analysis.