Zimbabwe have a new public holiday, observed on September 15, to celebrate the pre-colonial Mutapa Empire but it was South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt who reigned supreme in Bulawayo. She scored 126 not out, the highest score ever by a South African batter in women's T20Is, against Zimbabwe to win the five-match series three-to-nil. Wolvaardt, whose scores in the first two matches were 6 and 10, was not going to miss a third match. She shared a 173-run stand with Karabo Meso, who hit a career-high 50 not out, and South Africa had the fourth-highest total in the format. When Meso left the field in the eighth over of Zimbabwe's chase with what appeared to be a serious injury, her joy was short-lived. It has since been confirmed as a groin strain. Zimbabwe was 34 for 6 at that point, and their battle was almost over. South Africa made three changes to their XI including at the top of the order where Anneke Bosch was rested after back-to-back fifties and Miane Smit given a chance. When Smit mishit Tendai Makusha to Loreen Tshuma at mid-on in the third over, she was aggressive upfront and perhaps a little too early. That was all the joy Zimbabwe had in the field as Meso, highly rated after her performances in the SA20 Schools League, made the most of her promotion to No.3. Having not batted in the series so far, Meso showed she has both the power and the patience of the big stage, and had the perfect partner to share it with. Zimbabwe struggled with control and Wolvaardt showed no mercy. Her fifty came off 32 balls with an aerial drive over mid-on and she was quick to pounce on anything wide or wayward. The former were plentiful because Zimbabwe also scored 16 wides, which did not go well for their cause. The four overs bowled by Nyasha Gwanzura were the least expensive, costing only 25 runs, while Michelle Mavunga gave up 21 runs in three overs. All five of the other bowlers conceded more than 10 runs per over. With two overs remaining in the innings, Wolvaardt scored his century using 54 balls. She increased her intensity even further, scoring 25 runs off the six subsequent balls she faced. In the process, Wolvaardt has only become the only South African to score 3000 T20I runs. Zimbabwe's initial problems were in response. Gwanzura drove Smit's third ball straight back to her and she reacted quickly to run-out Lorraine Pemhiwa at the non-striker's end, before she had even faced a ball. When Beloved Biza stepped on her stumps to take Annerie Dercksen's second wicket, the bizarre dismissals continued. Dercksen already had Kelis Ndhlovu given out lbw earlier in the over. After five overs, Zimbabwe were 25 for 3, 29 for 4 at the end of the powerplay, and 35 for 6, and there was no turning back. Dercksen picked up her third wicket when she bowled Tshuma, who swung across the line and saw her offstump rock back. The sixth wicket may have ended up costing South Africa more than Zimbabwe. She fell to the ground and could not get back up as Meso ran to catch a catch from a top edge. She was helped off the field. Jae-Leigh Filander was brought on to keep in her place. Zimbabwe's lowest total of 61 appeared to be attainable for the first time in the series, but they clawed their way past it. Christine Mutasa sent Luyanda Nzuza to Nondumiso Shangase at extra cover to end a 27-run seventh-wicket stand, giving the debutant offspinner her first wicket. Mavunga and Loryn Phiri, who were on 51 for the eighth wicket, were bowled by Dercksen for a fourth wicket. Two balls later, Dercksen had Mavunga caught in the deep to complete her five-for. She conceded four off her last ball to finish with figures of 5 for 15 and is the third South African to take five wickets in a T20I innings after Sune Luus and Shabnim Ismail.