Quickly
Socially
Trending
Crypto
SA beat ZIM by 5 wickets | Zimbabwe vs South Africa, Highlights And Cricket Score 1st ODI Match - Commentary
Zimbabwe in South Africa, 3 ODI Series, 2018
Date: Sep 30, 2018 Start Time: 13:30 IST | 08:00 GMT | 10:00 LocalVenue: De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Google Trends
Zimbabwe vs South Africa Highlights And Cricket Score 1st Match - ODI Commentary
Right then. 118 to win. South Africa have 7 10-wicket wins in ODIs, but NONE against Zimbabwe. Could today be the first? The Proteas will be out to bat for a while, till 1130 GMT, till Lunch. Stay tuned.
Sadly, from a Zimbabwean perspective, in spite of getting their big guns back in the playing XI, the batting simply could not even put up a fight. Elton Chigumbura's 27 was the highest score after Hamilton Masakadza's 25 was just enough to frustrate Rabada.
Perfect team bowling by the Proteas. Every South African bowler who bowled got a wicket at least and the best part was that no one took more than 3 wickets - which means that it was not a one-man show. Lungi Ngidi set things up with the new ball while Phehlukwayo took care of the middle order. Rabada then bounced back in his second spell while Tahir ensured that the tail did not wag much.
Almost like a warm-up outing with the ball for South Africa. The bowlers have worked their way out through Zimbabwe's lineup, which have to say, has simply not turned up. 117 - their LOWEST ODI total against South Africa, beating their previous 119 at Centurion in 2009.
Lungi Ngidi to Elton Chigumbura. OUT! Ngidi shuts the visitors' innings with a 3-fer! He lands this one on a length in line of the stumps, Chigumbura goes through with his lofted stroke down the ground even though he is not to the pitch of it. Ends up mistiming it towards mid on where Rabada moves to his left to take the easiest of catches. ZIMBABWE ARE BOWLED OUT FOR 117!
Imran Tahir to Tendai Chatara. The slider from Tahir, Chatara gets behind it and keeps it out towards mid-wicket.
Imran Tahir to Elton Chigumbura. In an attempt to get a lot of spin on this one, Tahir slips this one down the leg side again. It is swept away towards fine leg for a single.
Imran Tahir to Elton Chigumbura. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Imran Tahir to Elton Chigumbura. Quicker one outside off, helped with an open bat face to short third man.
Imran Tahir to Elton Chigumbura. FOUR! Well played! The attempted slider from Tahir which ends up being a full toss down the leg side. Chigumbura kneels and sweeps it down to fine leg to find the fence.
Imran Tahir to Elton Chigumbura. The wrong one from Tahir which spins and dips in sharply. Elton tries to play it to the leg side but is hit on the pads.
Lungi Ngidi to Tendai Chatara. In the channel outside off, left alone.
Tendai Chatara is the last man in.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. OUT! The penultimate nail in the coffin! That one took off prodigiously and Jarvis falls prey to it. Back of a length ball on off, angling in sharply and with steep bounce. Jarvis hops to fend it down but gets beaten. The ball hits his right elbow and then deflects back to the stumps. Let's hope that Kyle is fine. He has just recovered from a finger injury.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. On a length outside off, Kyle has a go at it but only connects with thin air.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. Wide! Ngidi hurls this one across the tramline as Jarvis lets it go. The umpire stretches his hand to make the signal.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. Another full ball, around off this time, Kyle puts his head down and defends it with authority.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. Pitched up ball attacking the stumps, Jarvis comes ahead and defends it down the track.
Lungi Ngidi to Elton Chigumbura. Length ball down the leg side, tickled down to fine leg to rotate strike.
Time for Drinks.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. Dropped! This is the third catch in this innings which has gone down. Conventional leg spinner outside off, Jarvis tries a full-blooded drive through the line but gets an outside edge behind. Hendricks at first slip reacts to his right, gets his hands to it but ends up spilling it. Another sharp chance goes down.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. FOUR! Tahir almost gets his third! A googly outside off, spinning in nicely. Jarvis pushes at it but gets an inside edge which evades the leg stump and beats the keeper to go through to the ropes.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. Edged but safe! Tossed up outside off, Kyle pokes at it but gets an outside edge past first slip.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. Ooh... close! Quicker one around off, Jarvis tries to block it but gets an inside edge just past his leg stump towards the man at 45.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. Slower through the air, Kyle leans ahead and defends it nicely.
Imran Tahir to Elton Chigumbura. On middle and leg, helped down to fine leg for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. Dropped! That was by no means an easy catch though. Fuller length ball around off, Jarvis drives it hard towards Ngidi who is quick to react in his followthrough. Tries to take it with his left hand which is his non-catching one but the ball doesn't stick. He is a terrific athlete and that is why he is disappointed.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. On a length outside off, played with an angled bat towards point.
Lungi Ngidi to Kyle Jarvis. Pitched up ball around off, Jarvis comes ahead and blocks it right under his eyes.
Lungi Ngidi to Elton Chigumbura. The batsman opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. One run added to the total.
Lungi Ngidi to Elton Chigumbura. FOUR! This is the way to go now - attack. Fuller length ball outside off, Chigumbura comes ahead and smashes it through covers for a rocketing boundary. Zimbabwe's lowest ODI total against South Africa is 119, way back in 2009 at Centurion. Can they get past that today?
Lungi Ngidi to Elton Chigumbura. On a back of a length well outside off, Chigumbura goes for a cut but misses.
Lungi Ngidi comes back for a bowl.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. FOUR! Shot! Zimbabwe bring up their 100, something to at least smile for them. Tossed up ball around off, Jarvis stays leg side of the ball and drills it through extra cover to find the ropes.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. Tossed up ball, Kyle prods forward in defense.
Imran Tahir to Kyle Jarvis. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Kyle Jarvis comes in at no 10.
Imran Tahir to Brandon Mavuta. OUT! LBW! Tahir has his second and Zimbabwe well... are going, going... He gets his second, courtesy a flipper! The South Africans are all over Zimbabwe like a rash. He slides this one on middle and it skids through after landing. Mavuta hangs back and looks to play it defensively to the leg side but misses to get hit flush on the pads. The Proteas appeal in unison and the umpire agrees.
Imran Tahir to Brandon Mavuta. EDGED, BUT FOUR! The googly outside off, Mavuta looks to defend but the ball spins in, takes the outside edge and luckily for him, escapes first slip. Races to the third man fence.
Imran Tahir to Brandon Mavuta. Full and around middle, Mavuta comes down the track and works it towards short mid-wicket.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Back of a length ball, Elton hangs back and blocks it with a straight bat.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. FOUR! Nicely done! Length ball around off, Chigumbura leans ahead and drives it neatly through covers to find the fence.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brandon Mavuta. Down the leg side, Mavuta looks to flick but misses. The ball rolls towards square leg and a single is taken. No signal from the umpire, so the debutant is off the mark.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. A tad short, Elton stays back and steers it behind point for a single.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. A straight ball, outside off, Chigumbura looks to play that through the line but is beaten.
Imran Tahir to Brandon Mavuta. Tossed up ball, Mavuta comes ahead and blocks it.
The debutant, Brandon Mavuta is the new man in.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. OUT! Another one bites the dust! That looked very high to the naked eye though, might have been a harsh call. Tahir switches to around the wicket and bowls a conventional leg spinner on a shorter length this time, probably his first one to the left-hander. Masakadza goes for a pull across the line but misses to get hit on the back pad. Tahir roars in an appeal and the umpire raises his finger. In his first over, he was bowling googlies to Wellington and this time, he was not expecting the leg spinner. Can the Proteas bowl Zimbabwe out below 100?
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. Tossed up ball on middle, kept out watchfully.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. An appeal for an LBW but it has been turned down! A googly around leg stump, Masakadza tries to block it but is hit on the front pad. Tahir appeals but he is not paid heed to. Replay shows that it pitched outside leg.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Outside off, Elton pushes at it but misses.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Ooh... that one rose substantially! Takes off from a good length, probably from one of those grassy patches. Chigumbura comes forward to deal with it but is taken aback. The ball hits his gloves and rolls towards mid-wicket. Masakadza sets off for a single but he is rightly sent back by his partner. No harm done in the end.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Fuller in length around off, Elton comes ahead and defends it right under his eyes.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Pitched on a length, around middle, seaming in, Chigumbura misses his flick and is hit on the pad.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Full and outside off, driven towards mid off.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. This time Masakadza reads the wrong one nicely. Stays back and watches it go past him to the keeper.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. Slows this one a touch, defended solidly off the front foot towards mid-wicket.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. FOUR! Streaky but effective! The third googly hasn't done the trick. Quicker on a shorter length around off, Wellington pushes at it but gets an outside edge past first slip and through to the fence. This is the highest score for Masakadza in ODI cricket, he would be eager to carry on.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. Another wrong one, this time Masakadza deals with it from the back foot.
Imran Tahir to Wellington Masakadza. Good deception from Tahir! He bowls a googly around off and it is slower in pace. Wellington comes ahead trying to read it off the pitch but fails and gets beaten.
Imran Tahir to Elton Chigumbura. Starts off with a loosener. A full toss on middle and leg, Elton stays leg side of the ball and knocks it down to long off to rotate strike.
Time for spin. Imran Tahir to roll his arm over now. He is an exciting bowler to watch. Let us see what he has got up his sleeve for us.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Wellington Masakadza. On a length outside off, played with an open bat face towards point.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Wellington Masakadza. On a length, holds up a bit on the pitch. Wellington comes half-forward and tucks it tentatively towards mid-wicket.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Waits for the length ball to arrive towards him and taps it towards third man for a single.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Beaten! Short and space to work with, Elton tries to flay it square of the wicket on the off side but only manages to connect with thin air.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Wellington Masakadza. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Wellington Masakadza. Full length ball attacking the stumps, kept out with a closed bat face towards mid-wicket.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. Fuller in length outside off, Chigumbura goes for a booming drive but gets it off the inner half down the track. 9 from the over.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. FOUR! Second boundary of the over! Overpitched on middle, Chigumbura drives it down the ground past the bowler to find the fence. This is how they need to go about things, no option left for them.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Kagiso Rabada to Wellington Masakadza. On a length on off, Masakadza gets cramped for room but somehow manages to get it off the outer half towards extra cover. A run taken.
Kagiso Rabada to Wellington Masakadza. FOUR! Crisp! Pitched up ball around off, Wellington takes a confident stride forward and drives it on the up past the mid off region for a delightful boundary.
Kagiso Rabada to Wellington Masakadza. Good length ball outside off, angling in, Masakadza knows where his off stump is and makes an assured leave.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Wellington Masakadza. A brilliant yorker on middle, Wellington is alert to it and is successful in jamming it out.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Wellington Masakadza. If he had missed that, he was a clear candidate for an LBW! Fullish ball, coming in from around off with the natural around the wicket angle. Masakadza falls over a touch in his stance as he keeps it out at the last moment towards mid-wicket.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Wellington Masakadza. Length ball on the fifth stump channel, Wellington plants his front foot across and lets it be.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Similar length ball well outside off, it has been run down to third man for an easy single.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Back of a length ball, angling in from off, clipped behind square leg for a brace.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Elton Chigumbura. Beaten! Short and room on offer, Chigumbura throws his bat at it but misses.
Andile Phehlukwayo gets a change of ends.
Kagiso Rabada to Wellington Masakadza. DROPPED AND FOUR! Rabada fires this very full on off, Hamilton keeps his eyes on the ball as he drives this uppishly straight down the ground. Rabada throws his hand out to catch the ball but it goes through his palms. The deflection off the bowler's hand has reduced the pace but the ball still has enough power to cross the long off boundary.
Kagiso Rabada to Wellington Masakadza. Hamilton chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump.
Wellington Masakadza is the next man in.
Kagiso Rabada to Peter Moor. OUT! Given out after a looong look at it. Looked out to the naked eye. Rabada lands this a bit shorter of good length around off. He has hit the deck hard and that helps in extracting some extra bounce off the surface. Moor, from within his crease, looks to block this out but the ball hits the splice and lobs to Elgar at first slip who seems to have taken a very low catch. The umpires go upstairs to check the catch and after many looks at it, Moor is given out. From most of the angles, it appeared that Elgar's fingers were under the ball as he was catching it. Fair enough decision. Another flop show by PM!
Peter Moor has been caught at first slip by Dean Elgar but the umpires want to check it upstairs. He has claimed the catch and it seems to the naked eye that it is a clean one. Let's find out...
Kagiso Rabada to Peter Moor. Driven through the covers by Moor.
Kagiso Rabada to Peter Moor. FOUR! Cracking square drive! This will give a lot of confidence to Moor. Rabada lands this on a good length outside off, Moor throws his bat at the ball and his hand-eye co-ordination is good enough to get the middle of the bat as the ball flies past point for a cracking boundary.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. A splice-tickler! Rabada lands this short and around off, Chigumbura tries to block it off the back foot but cannot control the extra bounce. The ball hits the splice of the bat and flies through the vacant gully region for a single.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. A play and a miss! A length ball outside off, holding its line. Moor goes for a flashy drive through the line but gets beaten.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. Good length ball around off, Moor hangs back and stonewalls it.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. On a length, shaping in, Peter gets behind it and flicks it to mid-wicket.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. FOUR! Shot! Moor is showing aggressive intent. Very full ball outside off, Moor drives it through cover-point for a rocketing boundary.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. Angling in on a fuller length, played with a closed bat face towards mid-wicket.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. A full length ball is driven to mid off. End of a wicket maiden for Rabada.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. A good length ball on off, blocked out off the front foot.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. Chigumbura has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. A fuller delivery on off, defended off the front foot by Chigumbura.
Kagiso Rabada to Elton Chigumbura. Wide of off, left alone.
Elton Chigumbura strides out to bat.
Kagiso Rabada to Brendan Taylor. OUT! Another one caught at slip and the smile is back! At last, Rabada is rewarded for some excellent pace bowling. He lands this a bit shorter of a good length around off. Taylor, tentatively, looks to play at it. The ball bounces a bit more than he expects and also nips away slightly, thereby taking the shoulder of his bat and some part of the gloves on the way to second slip. Reeza Hendricks takes a simple catch, his third of the innings already. Rabada has got his mojo back, his first spell was good but not rewarding which had the pacer a bit frustrated.
Kagiso Rabada comes back into the attack.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. A similar delivery and blocked out by Moor to end a tight over.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. Moor shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. A very full delivery on middle and off is driven crisply to mid off.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. Punched off the back foot by Moor to covers.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Tapped to mid on and takes off for a quick single. The fielder races in, picks up and has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses the stumps. Very tight single this.
Willem Mulder to Peter Moor. A good length ball on the middle stump line, Moor turns it towards the square leg region and gets a single.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brendan Taylor. Taylor rocks onto the back foot and punches to covers. A good over by Phehlukwayo comes to an end.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brendan Taylor. A good length ball just outside off, Taylor leans across to defend it off the front foot.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brendan Taylor. Marginally short of good length around off, Taylor stays back and blocks it out.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brendan Taylor. Defended off the front foot by Brendan presenting the full face of the bat.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brendan Taylor. Very full on the off stump, driven politely to mid off.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brendan Taylor. A good length ball angling into Taylor, turned away into the mid-wicket region.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Good running! Shuffles across to the length ball and taps it towards mid-wicket for a quick run.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Back of a length outside off, shaping in. Brendan shuffles across and dead-bats it.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Back of a length well outside off, punched crisply off the back foot through covers for a brace.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Pitched up delivery around off, trying to bring the short cover fielder into play. Taylor leans ahead and strokes it towards mid off.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Back of a length ball around off, kept out off the back foot.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. On the fifth stump channel outside off, Taylor plants his front foot across to let it be.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Peter Moor. FOUR! A bit fuller outside off, Moor starts superbly as he leans forward and drives this past the diving cover fielder for a boundary.
Time for Drinks! A brilliant start from South Africa on a surface which has variable bounce on it. The visiting batsmen have been found wanting. Got to question their shot selections which have been off the radar. Taylor needs to take a lot of responsibility if he is to bail his side out of trouble. Meanwhile, Peter Moor is the new man in.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Sean Williams. OUT! Second in two overs for Phehlukwayo! He dishes this a bit shorter of a good length. The bowler has varied his length well as he gets some movement on landing and Williams is beaten as he looks to close the bat face too early. Is rapped on the pads in front of the wickets. The Proteas go up with a big appeal and the umpire obliges. The ball before took off as it landed on a grassy patch but this one landed on a bare patch and hence, shot down. Not easy to bat here but the visitors need to show application. Fourth one down for Zimbabwe and they are tottering here.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Sean Williams. Beaten! What a delivery! Phehlukwayo getting some variable bounce as this one lands on a length around off and takes off the deck like a plane. Williams, who is looking to block it off the front foot is totally beaten and surprised by the sharp bounce. Super stuff from the medium pacer.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Sean Williams. FOUR! Smashed! A rare loose delivery from the Proteas as Phehlukwayo keeps it short and wide of off, Williams square cuts it hard and finds the third man boundary. A timely and important boundary for Zimbabwe.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Sean Williams. A bit shorter of a good length on off, defended off the back foot.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Sean Williams. Phehlukwayo, coming from around the wicket, lands this on a good length a bit wide of off, the ball keeps a bit low and goes under the bat of Williams who tries to play at it.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Short of a length outside off, punched crisply off the back foot through covers for a brace.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. A really poor attempt that from Taylor! Length ball outside off, Taylor who is not to the pitch of the ball swings his bat at it but misses. Zimbabwe have already lost 3 wickets and that was a nothing shot from the senior pro. Needs to keep his cool.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Tight line and length from Mulder around off, defended off the back foot.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Angling in from a back of a length, keeps low. Taylor does well to adjust in his crease to block it beside the pitch.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. On a length around off, Taylor shuffles a touch and keeps it out off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket.
Sean Williams comes out to bat.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Hamilton Masakadza. OUT! GONE! What a start for Phehlukwayo! A half-hearted push has cost Hamilton his wicket. He keeps this a bit shorter of a good length around off, Hamilton looks to play a nothing shot by pushing at the ball tentatively. The little away movement on it takes the outside edge and Reeza Hendricks at first slip gobbles it easily to his right. The opener has thrown it away after battling hard and surviving the new ball phase. Must be gutted with himself.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Hamilton Masakadza. Marginally shorter of a good length around off, blocked off the back foot.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Hamilton Masakadza. A fuller ball on middle is driven to mid-wicket.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Hamilton Masakadza. Defended off the back foot by Masakadza. Looking solid here is Hamilton.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Brendan Taylor. Short and on the body of Taylor, he swivels and pulls it to fine leg for a single.
Andile Phehlukwayo to Hamilton Masakadza. Starts with a length ball attacking the stumps with an inward shape on it, Hamilton looks to flick but gets it off the inner half and the pair cross over for a run as the ball rolls down in the gap towards square leg.
Andile Phehlukwayo comes on for a bowl.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Willem Mulder to Hamilton Masakadza. Fiercely cut but straight to the man at third man for a single. Mulder has to keep it a bit fuller and on the stumps if he wants to trouble the batsmen.
Willem Mulder to Hamilton Masakadza. Hamilton has played it to the point region.
Willem Mulder to Hamilton Masakadza. FOUR! Whack! Masakadza skips down the track and drives this length ball on off through the cover region. He finds the gap perfectly between covers and mid off to pick up a boundary for the visitors.
Willem Mulder to Hamilton Masakadza. A bit shorter this from Mulder on off, Hamilton stands tall on his toes and punches this to covers.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Shorter of a good length angling into the batsman, Taylor turns this into the square leg region with the angle to pick up a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Brendan Taylor. That one took off like an aeroplane! On a length around off with extra bounce. Taylor gets surprised as the ball takes the splice of the bat and goes past the slip cordon. A run taken.
Lungi Ngidi to Brendan Taylor. In the channel outside off, left alone.
Lungi Ngidi to Brendan Taylor. Just short of Elgar at first slip! Taylor must have had his heart in his mouth. Back of a length around off, straightening a touch. Taylor is opened up in his stance and gets an outside edge behind. Dean gets low but the ball carries to him just on the bounce. Good sportsmanship from him as he doesn't claim the catch.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Good running! Better from the batsmen, they need to put some pressure on the fielders. Full ball on middle, jammed out towards mid on and the batsmen scurry across.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Back of a length outside off, dabbed in front of point. Hamilton wants a run but there is none on offer.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. On a good length on middle and leg, Hamilton doesn't have space to work with and defends it down the track.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Defended off the front foot by Brendan presenting the full face of the bat. A good start by Mulder, a wicket and 2 runs from his first over.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. A good length ball on off is driven to mid off.
Willem Mulder to Brendan Taylor. Fuller around off to Taylor, defends off the front foot.
Brendan Taylor strides out to bat.
Willem Mulder to Craig Ervine. OUT! Number 2 for the Proteas! Brilliant stuff this from Mulder, he has just not left the good length in the corridor of the off stump. Ervine does not commit himself on the front foot and tries to keep it out with a straight bat. The ball pitches and seams away slightly. There is a sound as the ball goes past the bat and the Proteas are confident in their appeal. The umpire nods and Ervine has to take the long walk back. Replays later show that Ervine might have been a touch unlucky as the bat seems to have hit the front pad and the ball has missed the bat. However, there is no DRS system here and the batsman has to go.
Willem Mulder to Craig Ervine. Fires this one down the leg, given a wide.
Willem Mulder to Hamilton Masakadza. That was a close shave! Masakadza taps this good length ball towards point and takes off for a quick run. The fielder at point is quick to get to the ball and fires a throw at the non-striker's end but misses. Replays show that it would have been tight if that hit.
Willem Mulder to Hamilton Masakadza. Mulder starts his spell with a short of a good length ball on off, Masakadza goes back and blocks it with a straight bat.
Time for Powerplay 2! Maximum of four fielders are now allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over. Meanwhile, Willem Mulder comes into the attack.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. A bit shorter of a good length, Ervine rocks back and keeps it out with a straight bat.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. Beaten! Nice length and length by Ngidi. He keeps this around off as Ervine comes forward to defend and gets beaten.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. Pulls his length back marginally and Ervine rides on top of the ball to push it to point.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. Clever from Ngidi as he lands this slower ball very full on off, Ervine is half beaten but manages to bring his bat down in time to keep this out.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. A very full ball on off, driven straight to mid off.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Good ball to end the over on off, the batsman keeps it out off the front foot.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Similar ball, a bit fuller this and the batsman has again played it towards the point region.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Lands this a bit shorter of a good length on off, Hamilton gets on his toes to push it to point.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. Banged in short, angling towards the ribs of Ervine. The batsman tucks this one off the back foot towards square leg and gets a run.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. Length ball outside off, Ervine comes forward to drive this to covers.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. A bit fuller on middle, Masakadza comes forward to defend it out.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Full and straight, driven to mid off.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Edged but safe! Hamilton, trying to put Ngidi off his line and length, walks across the stumps and skips a step forward to flick this length ball on off through the mid-wicket region. The ball hits the deck and nips away slightly with a bit of extra bounce which induces a thick leading edge. The ball skies up towards covers and the fielder runs back but cannot get to it. The batsmen take two runs.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Good bowling this by Ngidi as he keeps this on a good length hitting the top of off, Hamilton defends well off the front foot.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. Ngidi continues with a full length ball outside off, Ervine looking to drive through the off side gets a bottom edge down to third man, gets a single.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Rush of blood from Hamilton! On a good length just outside off, Masakadza tries to go down the ground but gets beaten. That was not far from the off pole. 6 from the over.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Pitched up again on off, driven to mid off.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. FOUR! Not off the meat but he gets the desired result! Fractionally overpitched on middle, Hamilton goes for a heave across the line but drags it over mid-wicket to find the fence.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Wide! Another bumper but it is too short, the opener ducks under it.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. A full delivery around off, Hamilton comes ahead and defends it with a straight bat.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Fuller in length around off, defended solidly off the front foot.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. In the zone outside off, left alone.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Wide! A sharp bouncer from Rabada around off, rising steeply. Masakadza watches the ball closely and drops his wrists at the last moment to let it be. Wide signaled for height.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. FOUR! Simply magnificent! Ngidi dishes this out on a fuller length on middle and leg, Ervine is upto the task as he flicks this cleanly through mid-wicket for a cracker of a boundary.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Masakadza opens the face of the bat to this short of a good length ball around off and helps it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. A bit shorter in length, Hamilton goes for the pull but mistimes it to square leg.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Length ball on off, the batsman defends it from within the crease.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Big appeal, not given. Ngidi starts his new over with a good length ball angling in from middle, Hamilton looking to flick it gets beaten and is rapped on the thigh pad. The Proteas go up with a half-hearted appeal but the umpire is unmoved. Remember, there is no DRS for this series.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. Beaten! A peach to end the over. Rabada lands this on a good length around off. Ervine looking to keep it out gets beaten by the late away movement. Good over by the fast bowler.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. Good ball this from Rabada. Was there an edge? Maybe not. Too close for comfort for Ervine. The good length ball angling in passes right through the gap between the bat and body of the batsman as he's looking to defend it. Rabada and the Proteas are asking the question. The umpire shows no interest in the appeal. Replays show that the sound was of the bat hitting the pad.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. Rabada attacking the stumps and keeps it on a good length, the inward angle on the ball from around the wicket gets the inside edge as Ervine looks to play straight. The ball rolls towards square leg.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. Pulls his length back fractionally, Ervine blocks it from within the crease.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. Good ball and well played by Ervine as he blocks this with a straight bat off the front foot.
Kagiso Rabada to Craig Ervine. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. A short of a good length ball outside off, rising on hitting the deck but Hamilton lets it be.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Good length ball on off, tapped to mid-wicket.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Defended off the back foot by the batsman.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. Better by Ngidi as he keeps this a bit fuller on off, Ervine comes forward to defend but the outward angle of Ngidi takes the outside edge and the ball flies to the fielder at third man as the batsmen cross for a single.
Lungi Ngidi to Craig Ervine. A good length ball from over the wicket, lands this just on the leg stump angling across, Ervine keeps it out off the back foot.
Craig Ervine comes out to bat. The senior pro needs to rise to the occasion today.
Lungi Ngidi to Solomon Mire. OUT! South Africa draw first blood! Ngidi is the one who is in the thick of things straightaway. He steams in from over the wicket and bowls a fuller length ball in the tight off stump corridor, swinging away appreciably. Mire with minimal foot movement goes for a drive through the line but gets a thick outside edge which flies towards second slip. Hendricks stationed there takes it nicely. Both the slip fielders were standing really close to each other, they need to be watchful regarding it if the ball travels in between them. A duck for Solomon, 4th in ODIs but three in this year itself.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. FOUR! Super shot! Rabada dishes this one full and a bit wide of off, Masakadza quickly leans forward and creams this drive through extra cover to get the second boundary of the over. A good and confident start by the visitors here.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. FOUR! First boundary of the innings. Not exactly where he wanted it to go but he will take it all. Rabada lands this on a good length angling into the batsman, Masakadza tries to play this wide of mid on but gets it off the inner half of the bat and the ball races through the square leg region to the boundary.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. A bit shorter of a good length on off, tapped to the point region.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Firing it in the corridor around off, Masakadza can't do much but block it out.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. The batsman defends it from within the crease.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Similar length but this one is a bit straighter on middle and leg, Hamilton turns it off the inner half of the bat to the right of mid on and runs through for a single to retain strike.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. A good length ball on off, driven softly to mid off.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Good start this by the tall and lanky pacer as he dishes this very full delivery on off, may be trying to extract some movement in the air. Hamilton keeps it out.
Extra cover comes in front to a catching position. There is a bit of issue behind the bowler's arm in the background. Seems that due to the breeze, there is some movement.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. A rising delivery from a bit shorter of a good length but it's outside off, Hamilton leaves it alone.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. Fractionally short of a good length, angling into the batsman, Masakadza tries to work it into the leg side but gets beaten by the inward movement and gets rapped on the thigh pad.
Lungi Ngidi to Hamilton Masakadza. A bit short of a good length on off to start by the young quick, Hamilton defends it off the back foot.
Lungi Ngidi to bowl with the second new ball.
Kagiso Rabada to Solomon Mire. A good length ball on off to end a tight first over. Mire blocks it out off the front foot.
Kagiso Rabada to Solomon Mire. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. An inward shaping delivery on middle and leg, the batsman turns it towards the fine leg region to pick up a single and Zimbabwe are up and running.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Lands this a bit outside the line of off, Masakadza shoulders arms.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Length ball attacking the stumps, defended solidly with a straight bat.
Kagiso Rabada to Hamilton Masakadza. Nice start by Rabada as he keeps it on a length just outside off. Masakadza lets it go watchfully.
We are all set to get underway as the umpires and the South African team make their way to the middle. The Zimbabwe openers, Solomon Mire and Hamilton Masakadza, stride out to open the batting. Kagiso Rabada will start the proceedings with the first new ball. Two slips in place. Here we go...
Good news for Zimbabwe is that their experienced campaigners are back - Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams.
TOSS - South Africa win the toss and elect to field. Christiaan Jonker makes his ODI debut for the Proteas while Dale Steyn fails to make the cut to the playing XI today.
Hello and welcome to the coverage of the 1st ODI between South Africa and Zimbabwe to be played at Kimberley. With the return of some of their seniors players, the visitors will look to come up with a spirited performance and will be eager to upset the mighty Proteas. South Africa, led by JP Duminy, in the absence of their regular skipper, Faf du Plessis, will look to give some of their inexperienced players an opportunity to get some match practice. This might be Zimbabwe's best chance to come up with an upset. Let's hope to have a hard fought contest between bat and ball between these two African teams.
Right then! It was expected to be a one-sided contest and it eventually turned out to be that way in the end. The match has barely lasted 60 overs. Can we get a better contest, come game 2? Let us hope that. Join us for the second ODI on Wednesday, 3rd October, 2018 at 1 pm local (1100 GMT). That is a day-night affair. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!
JP Duminy like the ones before him, agrees that the pitch behaved stranger than usual. Says that the Kimberley track does a bit in the morning but today, it was a bit more. Is not too worried about his batsmen getting dismissed and outs it down to job done in the end. Is proud of his team for sticking to the game plans and executing them well. And then, he says that it was a difficult wicket to bat upon. On being asked about South Africa trying to play aggressive cricket, Duminy admits that it is a plan but today, it could not quite come off as batting aggressively on this pitch was difficult. (Still, his batsmen kept playing their shots...)
LUNGI NGIDI HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH. He, too, seems surprised by the spice in the wicket. Is happy to register a win after two successive losses in Sri Lanka. On his bowling plans, Lungi says that with the surface doing so much, he just needed to put the ball in the right areas. On choosing the right end, Ngidi credits it to Rabada who preferred to run into the wind as the latter likes to challenge himself, giving Lungi the easier option. Having said that, Ngidi also says that he too, would have loved to run into thr wind. On his success, he says that he is enjoying international cricket at the moment and hopes to be consistent.
Zimbabwean skipper, Hamilton Masakadza admits that he was surprised by how the pitch played. Adds that the team did have a look at the surface in the morning but it played out a bit more fruitful for the bowlers than it looked. Laments the poor batting but looking at the track, he feels that had his team got 50-60 more runs, it would have been a great contest. On the remaining matches, he wishes that his batting unit puts more runs on the board.
Now, a word about Zimbabwe's bowling. Could not find too many words to describe about their batting. But with the ball, their attitude was impressive. They knew that to win, or even compete, they had to bowl South Africa out and they did so, smartly. One cannot say that they bowled impeccable lines and lengths but they were toying with the ego of the opposition. Tendai Chatara perhaps, could have been given more overs. Please stay tuned or the presentation.
Heinrich Klaasen top scored for South Africa but cannot say that he looked a class apart. He too, played the same type of shots as his other mates did and gifted his wicket as well. Only, he lasted longer than the rest. In the dressing room, the team will be discussing on how can the batting do better next time.
Coming in with an aim of demolishing the opposition bowlers, the home side played more attacking shots than necessary. One can understand their motive but normal cricket could have got them results for their strokes as well. However, they tried to hit out almost each and every ball and as a result - were 4 down for 58. Another wicket there and we would have had a game on our hands.
A look at the match - one side gets bowled out inside 35 overs while the other loses half its unit in chasing a paltry total. But was it really that difficult a pitch? Well, perhaps - there was a shade of uneven bounce here and there. But while Zimbabwe batsmen lost their wickets to some good bowling, the same cannot be said about the Proteas.
Comfortable win for South Africa. But they made a hash of it. They have registered their BIGGEST ODI WIN over Zimbabwe in terms of balls remaining, but it was a bit of careless cricket from the home side's batsmen.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. FOUR! VICTORY FOR SOUTH AFRICA! They have huffed and puffed but have eventually got there. Down the leg side, Mulder just gets a tickle, past the keeper, to the fine leg fence. South Africa win by 5 wickets and 143 balls to spare.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. FOUR! Down the leg side, Duminy paddles it fine and gets a boundary. South Africa are a hit away from a win now.
Brandon Mavuta to Willem Mulder. On middle, flicked through the leg side for a run.
Brandon Mavuta to Willem Mulder. Full and around middle, Mulder looks to flick but gets a bit of a leading edge to the off side.
Brandon Mavuta to Willem Mulder. Full and just around off, watchfully defended.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. On middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a single.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. Full and around off, watchfully defended.
Brandon Mavuta is back on. 3-0-18-1 so far.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. Shorter and flatter this, punched off the back foot.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. Errs in length and lands it shorter of full length, Mulder rocks back and punches it through point, the fielder at sweeper cover does well to run across and restrict the batsmen to just a brace.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Tossed up delivery on off, Duminy skips down the track and drives it to long of for a single.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. Mulder flicks it away with a wristy shot and picks up a single.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. Fuller on middle, played to mid-wicket to get a run and change strike. Intelligent batting this.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Wellington Masakadza to Willem Mulder. Shorter again and is punched through cover-point for a single.
Wellington Masakadza to Willem Mulder. First aggressive instinct by Mulder but fails, luckily he gets beaten on the attempted square cut.
Wellington Masakadza to Willem Mulder. Mulder has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Wellington Masakadza to Willem Mulder. Slower and shorter, punched to covers.
Wellington Masakadza to JP Duminy. Tossed up on off, Duminy plays it through mid-wicket to change strike.
Wellington Masakadza to JP Duminy. Duminy dances down the track but decides to defend it. Interesting approach this.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. FOUR! On the last ball Williams errs in length, Mulder sees it short and wide, goes back and cuts hard through point for a boundary.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. JP flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Goes for the sweep again, Duminy adamant here, but again gets rapped on the front pad. He's outside the off stump line again and survives.
Sean Williams to Willem Mulder. Williams fires this one flatter but on Mulder's pads, he works it into the square leg region to get off the mark.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Fuller and slower on the stumps, driven to long on with the spin to pick up a run.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Tossed up delivery around off, Duminy goes down to look for the sweep, misses and gets hit on the pads but outside the line of off. Playing straight is advisable here.
Wellington Masakadza to Willem Mulder. Very full outside off, driven back to the bowler. 12 runs but a wicket as well from the over. Wellington Masakadza's figures read 4-1-24-2.
Wellington Masakadza to Willem Mulder. Full and outside off, left alone.
Willem Mulder is the new man in at number 7, replacing Klaasen.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. OUT! Klaasen is gone now. Just a ball before, a man was placed for this shot and the South African wicket-keeper joins his mates in handing one's wicket on a platter. The ball is short and Heinrich goes for the pull again. However, this time, the timing is not quite there and he finds Craig Ervine running in from deep mid-wicket. Easy catch. The on-air commentator says, 'Look at his reaction. He is mortified.' Powerful words. Just 22 more runs needed.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Full and outside off, HK is not enticed into going for the hat-trick. Defends watchfully.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. SIX! Save your legs. In a trice, Klaasen has crossed his previous highest score of 43 against India. Another long hop, Heinrich rocks back and pulls it over mid-wicket. A man now goes over there.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. SIX! MURDERED! First biggie of the day! A short ball around off, Klaasen goes back and just whip-pulls it. It is a combination of a whip and a pull. Sails over mid-wicket!
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Duminy again skips down the track but blocks this short of a length delivery with a straight bat.
Sean Williams to Heinrich Klaasen. Tossed up around off, Klaasen leans ahead and drives through mid off to get another single.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Leg Bye. Duminy looks to go down for the sweep, sees the length is not suitable for the shot and tries to turn this into the leg side. The ball spins in and hits him on the pads as the batsmen set off for a run. An appeal from Zimbabwe but turned down by the umpire. Seems to be going down the leg.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Defended off the front foot by JP presenting the full face of the bat.
Sean Williams to Heinrich Klaasen. Slower and fuller on off, driven down to long off to change strike.
Sean Williams to Heinrich Klaasen. Tossed up on the stumps, worked into the mid-wicket region.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. Duminy dances down the track again and does well to block the ball.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. Duminy comes down the track to this short of a length ball, blocks it into the off side.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. Short ball, pulled into mid-wicket for a single.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. FOUR! The problem with Zimbabwe is that there is at least one bad ball every over which is dispatched by the batsmen and they are not allowing to build some pressure. Dishes this one on his pads, Klaasen nudges it fine into the leg side and gets a boundary in the fine region region.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. Duminy again gives the charge, seeing him come forward Jarvis pulls his length back a bit. Duminy is good enough though to punch it into the cover region to get a run.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Dances down the track and drives to mid on for a single and retains strike. Duminy gets to his 5000th ODI run with this, he is the 9th South African to do so.
Sean Williams to JP Duminy. Williams fires this one on the pads, Duminy tries to flick but misses to get hit on the pads.
Sean Williams to Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball, the batsmen have run through for a single.
Sean Williams to Heinrich Klaasen. William flights this and keeps it full, Duminy keeps it out with a straight bat.
Sean Williams to Heinrich Klaasen. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Sean Williams to Heinrich Klaasen. A bit quicker and flatter this time around off, Klaasen makes room and tries to cut but is beaten by pace and misses the shot.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. Tossed up on off, comes forward and blocks it out.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. Duminy has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. A hat-trick of beats. A bit fuller around off this, Duminy goes for the drive this time and again gets beaten.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. Beauty again! Similar delivery, a bit fuller may be. Duminy again looks to play at it but gets beaten due to the away movement. Jarvis is a bit unlucky here but he needs to be patient and continue with the same line and length.
Kyle Jarvis to JP Duminy. Peach! Excellent from Jarvis, he needs to be consistent there. He lands this a bit short of good length around off, it has an away shape to it from over the wicket, Duminy looking to play at it gets beaten and survives.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. A length ball around off, tucked through square leg for a single.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. FOUR! Errs in length again and pays the price again. Duminy this time sees the short and wide ball and cuts it superbly through point for his first boundary.
Brandon Mavuta to Heinrich Klaasen. Tossed up ball on off, Klaasen strides forward and drives it to long off to cross over.
Brandon Mavuta to Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
Brandon Mavuta to Heinrich Klaasen. FOUR! Excellent from Klaasen. He sees the ball fractionally short on leg, goes back and across and pulls it over mid-wicket for another boundary.
Brandon Mavuta to Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. Tossed up delivery on off, Duminy goes back and works it into the square leg region for a single.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. FOUR! Swatted! Misses his length and the price is 4 runs. He bangs it in on the off stump line. The pace and height on this one is perfect for the pull shot and Klaasen does exactly that through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen stands tall and punches this shortish ball on off to covers.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. A bit shorter of a good length but is wide of off, Klaasen shoulders arms.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. Fuller length, driven back to the bowler.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. On a length outside off, punched towards mid off.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground to end a good over from Mavuta.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. Duminy defends it from within the crease.
Brandon Mavuta to JP Duminy. Lucky escape! Full and around middle and leg, Duminy goes low and across the off stump and looks to scoop this one over the keeper. However, he gets an inside edge onto his pads and the ball lobs in the air. There is a man at backward square leg but he cannot get there! Wow. That would have been terrific for Zimbabwe - 2 wickets in 2 balls.
The batsmen keep coming and going. Here's the next. Skipper JP Duminy.
Brandon Mavuta to Christiaan Jonker. OUT! That is totally irresponsible and immature. Inexperience at show here. But Zimbabwe will not mind. Mavuta tosses this one and lands it full around the middle and leg stump line. Jonker, in aggressive mode for reasons unknown, tries to flick this uppishly through mid-wicket but hits it towards Williams there. He gets low to his left and takes a good catch. South Africa need to be careful now, they are 4 down. Game on? Still 60 needed.
Brandon Mavuta to Christiaan Jonker. Flat and straight, Jonker tries to flick it but misses to get hit on the pads.
Brandon Mavuta to Heinrich Klaasen. Mavuta flights this and lands it on middle and leg, driven to covers.
Kyle Jarvis to Christiaan Jonker. Dropped just short of point. Jarvis keeps this a bit shorter of good length outside off, Jonker cuts it but mistimes it completely. The ball lobs towards point where the fielder dives in front to catch it but does not quite reach it and stops it on the bounce.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. Better from Jarvis as he dishes this one on a length attacking the stumps. Klaasen tucks it into the mid-wicket region for a run.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. A bit fuller this but still a bit outside off stump. Klaasen makes a good leave.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. Lands this on a length a bit wide of off, Klaasen already scored a boundary in the over does not take any risk and shoulders arms.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. FOUR! Smack! You cannot miss your length, especially at this pace. Klaasen accepts the gift and pulls it through mid-wicket to earn a boundary.
Kyle Jarvis to Heinrich Klaasen. Marginally shorter of a good length on off, punched to covers.
Kyle Jarvis to bowl from the other end. 3-0-20-0 so far.
Brandon Mavuta to Christiaan Jonker. Short again on middle, Jonker pulls through the deep square leg region to pick up a a brace.
Brandon Mavuta to Christiaan Jonker. Short again and Jonker goes for the pull, loses his balance as the ball hits his body and rolls down into the on side.
Brandon Mavuta to Christiaan Jonker. Tossed up and very full, defended off the front foot.
Brandon Mavuta to Christiaan Jonker. FOUR! Too short and punished. Jonker sees this one shorter in length, rocks back and pulls through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Brandon Mavuta to Christiaan Jonker. Tossed up on off, kept out.
Brandon Mavuta to Heinrich Klaasen. Keeps the leg spinner a bit shorter in length on middle, Klaasen goes back and punches it to loing off for a single.
No, I am not sleepy. We rarely see players taking a Lunch break in one-day cricket. But this match has progressed so quickly that we are already done with nearly 70 percent of the game. The Proteas need just 73 more runs to win but can Zimbabwe get the same energy levels which they had before the break? Here's the debutant and former Under-19 captain - Brandon Mavuta. Klaasen to face.
... DAY 1, SESSION 2 ...
So we go into a bit of a break now. Zimbabwe will not be too happy. They were into a bit of a groove and would have fancied getting into the Protean middle order, had they been playing for another 5 overs. Will South Africa bat a bit more sensibly after the break? Join us back at 1415 local (1215 GMT) to find out.
Andile Phehlukwayo is having a chat with Shaun Pollock. The former says that he is very happy with his display today. Reckons that it is a very good wicket for the seamers and he just tried to hit his lengths consistently. Praises the entire bowling unit for being on the mark right from the go. On bowling from both ends, Andile smiles and says that it was very tough bowling into the wind. But credits the management for giving the team lessons on how to bowl into the wind, before this game. The advice was to not run in but just jog through, he informs. On the team chasing the total, he reckons that the batsmen just need to apply themselves and hit through the line. On being further asked whether he would fancy batting on this surface, Phehlukwayo laughs and hopes that he does not get a chance to bat!
Zimbabwe have bowled well but South Africa have simply not been patient. They have tried to dictate terms just for the sake of it. And the result is there for us to see. Had this been some other opponent, it could have been a very dicey game for the home side.
An interesting passage of play! One would have thought that the South African openers would have liked to establish their dominance in this 45-minute session. But what has transpired is - they have ended up losing 3 wickets. And we have seen everything - dismissals, dropped catches and even no balls.
Tendai Chatara to Christiaan Jonker. A shortish delivery on off is played towards point. THAT'S LUNCH.
Tendai Chatara to Christiaan Jonker. On a good length around off, this time he cracks the drive but straight to covers.
Tendai Chatara to Christiaan Jonker. A full length ball is driven through to mid on.
Tendai Chatara to Christiaan Jonker. Beaten! Not a very smart shot this by Jonker. They are 3 down and very close to the lunch interval. He needs to be a bit more cautious here. Chatara lands this fractionally shorter of a good length delivery outside off. Jonker, who showed good patience in the beginning of the over goes for a flashy drive through off, but the extra bounce beats his bat.
Tendai Chatara to Christiaan Jonker. Wide! Strays down leg, Jonker tries to flick but misses. Wide given.
Tendai Chatara to Christiaan Jonker. After losing 3 wickets it seems the Proteas will be a bit more patient chasing this. Jonker leaves this one outside off.
Tendai Chatara to Christiaan Jonker. Jonker lets the ball go outside his off stump.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Driven through mid on by Heinrich.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. FOUR! Masakadza misses his length fractionally and lands it a bit short, Klaasen rocks back quickly and fiercely cuts this through point for a boundary.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Slower and fuller ball on off is driven to covers.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Tossed up on off, defended off the front foot.
Christiaan Jonker is the new man in. Around 3 minutes to go for Lunch.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. OUT! Markram is not lucky for the third time. This is not dropped. This is not a no ball. Zimbabwe have struck thrice before Lunch. Full and outside off, Aiden does not care whether the break is coming or not. He is in the mood to attack and does not spare this one either. Looks to clear mid off but the ball hits the toe end of his bat. Goes straight to mid off where Elton Chigumbura takes it easily. Poor choice of a shot from Markram. He could have waited for a while and come back after the break.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. A length ball outside off, Markram now being very watchful having being given the reprieve. He lets it go by.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Similar length but angling into middle stump line, Markram turns it to mid-wicket.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Chatara fires this one way outside off to entice Markram into a shot.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Nothing on the Free Hit. A low full toss, pushed towards mid on.
The Free Hit is coming up. Where will this be deposited?
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. EDGED AND TAKEN! But it is a no ball! Oh dear... A length ball, outside off, Markram gives it the kitchen sink and gets a thick outside edge, as there is no footwork. Also, there is extra bounce too, as we have seen throughout the morning. The ball goes straight to first slip where the catch is taken but here comes the drama. They check for the overstepping and replays show that CHATARA HAS CROSSED THE LINE! What a reprieve for Aiden. First, the dropped catch. Now, this.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Punched off the back foot by Klaasen to end the over.
Wellington Masakadza to Aiden Markram. Aiden skips down the track and drives this to the right of mid on for a single.
Wellington Masakadza to Aiden Markram. FOUR! A short and wide delivery is dealt with perfectly. Markram rocks back and cuts this through point for a cracking boundary.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Full and around leg stump, pushed down the ground to long off for a run.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Short and outside off, Klaasen goes back and punches it through the covers to get off the mark with a couple.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. A touch short outside off, punched back to the bowler.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. A straighter ball, Markram looks to push at it but gets hit on the pads.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Markram rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Aiden rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. FOUR! Smashing square drive by Markram. He reaches out to this length ball wide of off and goes for the booming drive again to get a boundary. He's come out with an attacking mindset. This time the timing is good enough to take the ball across the ropes.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Aiden has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Dishes this one on a good length but wide of off, seeing the width on offer, Markram flays at this one and gets it past the cover-point region for a brace.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Outside off, punched straight to cover.
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. NOT OUT. The foot never left the crease. Full and outside off, Klaasen looks to sweep but misses. The keeper whips off the bails and appeals. It is referred upstairs but replays show that the foot was planted firmly ever since the shot was played.
STUMPING APPEAL! OUT? NOT OUT? Referred upstairs...
Wellington Masakadza to Heinrich Klaasen. Full and around off, watchfully defended.
Heinrich Klaasen walks in at number 4, replacing Hendricks.
Wellington Masakadza to Reeza Hendricks. OUT! Right through and Zimbabwe have taken 2! Lovely bowling from Masakadza but absolutely no technique from Reeza. This is landed on middle, RH lunges to defend but is nowhere to the pitch of the ball. The bat is not even close to the ball and is closer to the pad. Was he expecting the arm ball? Perhaps. But it isn't the arm ball. It spins away, past the outside edge and hits the timber. Wellington is excited, to say the least.
Wellington Masakadza to Reeza Hendricks. Misses out. Short and outside off, Hendricks cuts it towards cover.
Wellington Masakadza to Reeza Hendricks. Outside off, Hendricks comes forward to push but is beaten by the ball spinning away.
Spin is introduced early. Wellington Masakadza to bowl now.
Tendai Chatara to Reeza Hendricks. A good length ball on off, tapped to point for a single.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. DROPPED! Chatara's persistence on that tight line and length almost reaped rewards. A good length ball around off, Aiden goes for the big booming cover drive on the up. The ball bounces more than he expects as it takes the outside edge and flies high to the right of Taylor. He leaps across and gets his right glove to it but cannot pouch it. Should he have left it for the fielder at first slip? Maybe that guy would have had a better chance. Zimbabwe need to take these half chances if they want to compete today.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Chatara again dishes this wide of the off stump line, Markram shoulders arms.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Wide of off again, Markram leaves this watchfully.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. In the corridor of uncertainty, Markram though takes a big stride forward to keep it out.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Short of a good length delivery outside off, Markram leaves it alone.
Kyle Jarvis to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! What a way to get off the mark! A length ball, outside off, Hendricks gets on his toes and just punches it through the covers. Away she goes, to the boundary.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. FOUR! IMPERIOUS! What a shot. Fractionally short in length, outside off, Markram cuts it through point and there is no one to stop that.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. On a length around off, nipping back in sharply, Markram looks to defend but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. A length ball on middle, defended towards short mid-wicket.
Tendai Chatara to Reeza Hendricks. Reeza lets the ball go behind outside his off stump. A good over comes to an end, a wicket off the first ball of the over and one more which almost got another wicket on the penultimate delivery as well.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Cut in half! A jaffa this from Chatara. He lands this a bit short of a length around off. Markram from within his crease tries to block it but the ball hits the deck and deviates inward prodigiously cutting him in half. The ball has missed everything and Aiden survives but the keeper fails to stop it cleanly. A bye results. The visitors needs to bowl more of these.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Straight ball played through mid-wicket by Aiden.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. A bit outside off on a length, Markram tries to put bat on ball but misses.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Markram has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Reeza Hendricks walks in at number 3, replacing Elgar.
Tendai Chatara to Dean Elgar. OUT! Wild slog and a wicket gifted! Elgar, against the run of play, skips down the track on the very first ball of the fourth over. He looks to swat the length ball angling into his body through mid-wicket. But takes his eyes off it and his head moves while he is trying to whack it too hard. As a result, the ball flies off the leading edge to third man where Moor pouches it with his fingers pointing up.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. FOUR! Creamed through covers! Jarvis looking to find some movement in the air pitches this full just outside off, Markram leans forward and drives this wonderfully through covers for a superb boundary.
Kyle Jarvis to Dean Elgar. This time he waits for the ball a bit longer and guides it towards point with an open face to pinch a single and gets off strike.
Kyle Jarvis to Dean Elgar. On a tight line and length around off, Elgar strides ahead and keeps it out with no problems.
Kyle Jarvis to Dean Elgar. Jarvis fires this a bit straight, angling into Dean, Elgar tucks it into the mid-wicket region.
Kyle Jarvis to Dean Elgar. A good length ball around off is defended solidly off the front foot.
Kyle Jarvis to Dean Elgar. Elgar has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Keeps it very full attacking the stumps, driven back to the bowler. Ends a tight over, just a wide and a single off it.
Tendai Chatara to Aiden Markram. Fires this very wide of off, Markram shoulders arms.
Tendai Chatara to Dean Elgar. Good running by the Proteas, Dean drives this to the right of mid off and takes a quick single.
Tendai Chatara to Dean Elgar. A repeat of the previous delivery and played similarly by Elgar into mid-wicket.
Tendai Chatara to Dean Elgar. A good length ball angling into the batsman from over the wicket, Elgar gets cramped but keeps it out to mid-wicket.
Tendai Chatara to Dean Elgar. Corrects his line and lands a short of a length delivery on off, Elgar keeps it out off the back foot.
Tendai Chatara to Dean Elgar. Wide! Tendai starts off with a wide down the leg side.
Tendai Chatara to bowl with the second new ball.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. Wide of off, left alone.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. Outside off again, Markram does not flirt with it and lets it go.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. Markram lets the ball go outside his off stump.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. Markram punches this short of a length delivery through covers to get a brace.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. FOUR! Close shave! Exactly like that, keeps this a bit shorter of a good length around off, the ball takes off on landing. The ball takes the edge as Markram looks to play at it and it flies past the second slip fielder. First boundary for the Proteas but not a convincing one.
Kyle Jarvis to Aiden Markram. A short of a length ball angling into the batsman is tucked into mid-wicket. Good bounce seen there. They have to make use of it though.
We are back for the chase. Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram to open the batting for South Africa. Kyle Jarvis to steam in with the first new ball. Markram on strike. Two slips in place. Here we go...