2nd ODI: Zimbabwe v South Africa at Harare, 29 Sep 2001 CricInfo Live Report

2nd ODI: Zimbabwe v South Africa at Harare, 29 Sep 2001
John Ward

Pre-game: Toss,
South Africa innings: 25 overs, Innings,
Zimbabwe innings: 25 overs,

ZIMBABWE SLIDE INTO TROUBLE IN HARARE ONE-DAYER

A South African breakthrough, reducing Zimbabwe to 50 for four wickets at one stage, made virtually certain of victory in the second One-Day International at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

At the halfway stage of the innings they were 94 for five, with Grant Flower on 15 and Dion Ebrahim yet to score.

Zimbabwe sprang a surprise by sending Paul Strang in to open with Alistair Campbell, Ebrahim dropping to the middle-order position he finds more natural. Strang, in his unorthodox style, got after the bowling to score 19 out of 38 before edging a catch to the keeper off Shaun Pollock.

Hamilton Masakadza (0) followed almost immediately, run out for the second time against South Africa through inexperience, ambling through for a leg-bye and surprised to be thrown out by Jacques Kallis at the bowler’s end.

Campbell (21) then drove Kallis to mid-off; Makhaya Ntini, with a disappointing tour to date, caused Andy Flower (2) to chop a ball on to his stumps, and Zimbabwe were on their way out of the match at 50 for four.

Stuart Carlisle and Grant Flower had to undertake a damage limitation exercise. Carlisle (31) played the more confidently of the two, but a brilliant diving catch far to his right by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher removed him in the 25th over and left Zimbabwe needing a miracle.

GIBBS SHINES AS SOUTH AFRICA REACH 272/7 IN HARARE

After the disaster of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe could feel well pleased to have restricted South Africa to a total of 272 for seven off their 50 overs in the second One-Day international in Harare on Saturday, with Gibbs top-scorer with 69 off 77 balls.

It took an outstanding catch to remove Gibbs, as Guy Whittall dived full-length at midwicket to hold a low flick off his toes off a delivery from Paul Strang; South Africa were 133 for three.

Gary Brent had retired with the honourable figures of 26 runs in eight overs; no wickets, but his accuracy might well have contributed to those at the other end. Whittall replaced him to bowl with similar economy until Jonty Rhodes got hold of him. He should have had Rhodes caught on the boundary, but it bounced off Alistair Campbell’s hands and went for six.

Rhodes added 79 with Neil McKenzie, reaching his fifty off 36 balls, before the latter pulled Grant Flower straight to Mluleki Nkala on the midwicket boundary to depart for 40 in the 38th over. Rhodes (56) soon followed to the same bowler, top-edging a sweep to be superbly caught by the diving Strang at fine leg.

Flower did a fine restraining job, and medium-pacers Brent and Whittall were wisely given the final four overs. Pollock (15) fell to Whittall in similar manner to McKenzie and then Lance Klusener off the final delivery for 34. In theory the game is still on, but Zimbabwe would have to bat superbly against the South African attack to win.

GIBBS SETS THE PACE IN HARARE ONE-DAYER

With Herschelle Gibbs again in scintillating form, South Africa made the most of winning the toss in the second One-Day International against Zimbabwe in Harare on Saturday, reaching 130 for two off the first 25 overs of their innings.

At that stage Gibbs was on 67 with Neil McKenzie on 16.

Travis Friend, bowling from the clubhouse end of the ground into the grassy end of the pitch, extracted some unusual bounce in his first over, but it didn't stop Gary Kirsten and Gibbs taking 12 from it, including a wide that bounced above head-height and a hooked six by Gibbs.

Gary Brent began with impressive movement and accuracy, but Friend broke through with the wicket of Kirsten (10), who was surprised by the extra bounce and got a leading edge that yielded a lobbed catch taken by the bowler himself.

Gibbs and Jacques Kallis were determined to dominate and played some outstanding strokes, although Kallis was missed off a hard chance to third man.

He had scored 26 when Paul Strang came on to bowl, and immediately chopped the first ball on to his stumps; South Africa 89 for two in the 17th over.

SOUTH AFRICA BAT FIRST IN HARARE ODI

South Africa won the toss and decided to bat in the second one-day international against Zimbabwe at the Harare on Saturday. On another hot day, the pitch looked good enough to cause Shaun Pollock little hesitation before making his choice.

One end, however, had noticeably more grass than the other. Situated on the other side of the square from the Test pitches, it was expected to yield a little more pace.

Zimbabwe made two changes to their team from Bulawayo. Captain Heath Streak, who had been nursing a back injury in the first match and paid the price, had to withdraw and Guy Whittall took over the leadership.

Streak was replaced by the usually accurate medium-pacer Gary Brent, while Stuart Carlisle came in for Craig Wishart, who was ill.

The teams were as follows:

Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell, Dion Ebrahim, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Carlisle, +Andy Flower, Grant Flower, *Guy Whittall, Mluleki Nkala, Paul Strang, Travis Friend, Gary Brent.

South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, +Mark Boucher, *Shaun Pollock, Claude Henderson, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.