Half-centuries to Graeme Smith, Gulam Bodi and AB de Villiers steered South Africa to a five-wicket victory with 19 balls to spare in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
Captain Smith scored 50, debutant Bodi made 51 and De Villiers weighed in with 63 as South Africa overhauled Zimbabwe's 206 all out, including five runouts, from 50 overs.
The home side reached 68 for two before they lost five wickets for four runs to crash to 72 for seven in the 24th over.
Elton Chigumbura (59) and Gary Brent (59 not out) picked up the pieces with conservative batting that yielded a partnership of 115 for the eighth wicket.
Although pace bowler Chris Mpofu dismissed Loots Bosman with the fourth ball of South Africa's reply, the visitors were never tested by the small target and Zimbabwe's modest attack on a slow pitch.

SCORE BOARD

ZIMBABWE
Sibanda c Smith b Pollock 15
Masakadza (run out) 8
Taylor (run out) 19
Taibu c de Villiers b Morkel 22
Williams c Pollock b Philander 0
Matsikenyeri b Philander 0
Chigumbura (run out) 59
Utseya (run out) 0
Brent (not out) 59
Maruma lbw van der Wath 7
C Mpofu (run out) 1
Extras (LB-5, W-11) 16
Total (all out; 50 overs) 206
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-28, 3-68, 4-71, 5-71, 6-72, 7-72, 8-187, 9-196.
Bowling: Pollock 8-1-25-1, Ntini 8-1-32-0, Morkel 10-1-33-1, van der Wath 9-0-59-1, Philander 8-2-15-2, Bodi 1-0-8-0, Tshabalala 6-0-29-0.
South Africa
Smith c & b Chigumbura 50
Bosman c Taibu b Mpofu 0
Bodi c Taibu b Utseya 51
De Villiers (run out) 63
Duminy lbw Utseya 3
Pollock (not out) 16
Philander (not out) 17
Extras (LB-5, W-3, NB-2) 10
Total (5 wkts, 46.5 overs) 210
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-73, 3-147, 4-155, 5-190.
Bowling: Mpofu 8-0-39-1; Brent 9-3-28-0; Chigumbura 8-0-40-1; Utseya 10-0-32-2; Masakadza 2-0-15-0; Maruma 9.5-0-51-0.