JP Duminy hit the highest score by a South African in Twenty20 International cricket to help his side wrap up the two-match series against Zimbabwe with a eight-run win in Kimberley.

The diminutive left-hander smashed 96 from 54 balls and, together with Graeme Smith (46), helped the hosts post a daunting 195.

The visitors were in contention for most of the chase and threatened to win it when Brendan Taylor (59) and Chamu Chibhabha (59) joined forces to put on 107.

But once they departed, so did their side's hopes, and despite a late rally from Elton Chigumbura (26 from 15) Zimbabwe fell narrowly short.

The tourists were again without the passport-troubled Grant Flower - but at least this time he was with the squad having joined up with his team-mates late yesterday.

Seamer Shingirai Masakadza did find a place in the line-up, replacing the Edward Rainsford, while the injured Morne Morkel and Ryan McLaren made way for Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Robin Peterson.

After losing the toss and being asked to field first, the Zimbabweans opened the bowling with spin in the form of Prosper Utseya and the ploy worked to perfection with Loots Bosman (five) swatting him straight to Chris Mpofu at mid-off.

Colin Ingram, who smashed the off-break bowler for two fours in his next over, then paid the price for being too attack-minded when he was cleaned up for 12.

But the aggressive Smith, without the burden of captaincy after relinquishing the role in Twenty20 cricket, kept the scoreboard ticking over as they reached the end of the power-play overs on 57.

He soon fell, though, attempting another big hit and only succeeding in top-edging part-timer Taylor to Graeme Cremer at long-on.

It was 86 for three at the halfway stage and Zimbabwe were still very much holding their own, before Duminy and David Miller (25) began to take the game away from the visitors.

They shared a 71-run partnership and then lost Miller, Heino Kuhn (one) and Petersen (one) in quick succession, but Duminy, who notched his 50 in 37 balls, cut loose towards the end with his 10 boundaries and four sixes helping post an impressive 194 for six.

Tsotsobe struck an early blow for the Proteas by dismissing Hamilton Masakadza for 10.

However, Taylor and Chibhabha had other ideas and, after a period of consolidation which saw them put on 50 in 39 balls, they soon began to up the pace.

Both were especially harsh on the spinners, helping their side reach the 10-over mark at 89 for one.

Duminy was then blasted for 17 in the 11th over to leave Zimbabwe requiring 89 from 54 balls.

Chibhabha's own half-century came from 35 balls, followed by that of Taylor's from 32, before the former fell to captain Johan Botha.

Charles Coventry (eight) and Taylor also went quickly, and with 49 from 23 still needed, the task proved too much for the lower order as the Zimbabweans ended on 186 for seven to suffer a 2-0 series defeat.