SA secure series

A slight top order wobble was not enough to stop South Africa recording a six wicket win over Zimbabwe and clinching the series.

Chasing only 153, the win was never really in danger for South Africa. The misfire of their top order again though, does not set a good precedent for when they take on stronger opposition in the Champion’s Trophy, which this is a warm up for.

Following Boeta Dippenaar’s disappointing downfall top edging a pull to point, international newcomers Loots Bosman and Alviro Peterson put on 53 in little over five overs. Bosman took more care early in his innings than he did Bloemfontein, but soon unleashed a flurry of boundaries.

He was aided by debutant Peterson, who struck 20 from 16 balls before being removed by the innocuous medium pace of Piet Rinke. Rinke was to strike twice in one over, as Bosman missed a drive. Jacues Kallis and Jean-Paul Duminy took South Africa to 109, before Kallis was bowled by Anthony Ireland who added the skipper’s scalp to that of Dippenaar. In his innings of 26, Kallis scored his 8000th ODI run, making him the first person to score 8000 runs and take 200 wickets in both forms of the game.

South Africa lost no further wickets as Duminy and Justin Kemp saw them home with ease, but Kemp was dropped by Utseya at midwicket. Duminy struck the winning runs, with a classy drive through cover.

Zimbabwe’s innings started an hour late due to the wet outfield that lad to the match being rescheduled for today. Once things did get underway, they made a poor start, Vusi Sibanda was caught behind off Ntini for a duck. Pollock was tight as usual, and removed Sibanda’s opening partner Tafadzwa Mufambisi for 21 with one that came back into the youngster.

Kallis decided to bring himself on and made further inroads into the line up. Masakadza was caught and bowled off Kallis’ first ball, a leading offering a return catch. In his third over, a good catch from Hall snaffled Brendan Taylor’s flick into the legside.

Once Stuart Matsikinyeri was cleaned up by Hall, Chamu Chibhabha added 47 with Elton Chigumbura to take them to 120-6. Once these two had gone, Prosoper Utseya scored an unbeaten 24 in the death overs, but lacked runs from his tail. ZImbabwe finished 152 all out, which would prove not nearly enough.

Zimbabwe 152 all out
Chamu Chibhabha 38
Andrew Hall 3-22, Jacques Kallis 2-22, Robin Peterseon 2-27

South Africa 156-4
Loots Bosman 38, Jean-Paul Duminy 31*
Piet Rinke 2-35, Anthony Ireland 2-40

South Africa win by six wickets