2nd ODI: Zimbabwe v South Africa at Harare, 29 Sep 2001 John Ward |
Pre-game:
South Africa innings: Zimbabwe innings: |
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.
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.
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.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 29 Sep2001 - 18:41