2nd Test: Zimbabwe v South Africa at Bulawayo, 14-18 Sep 2001 CricInfo Live Report

2nd Test: Zimbabwe v South Africa at Bulawayo, 14-18 Sep 2001
John Ward

Pre-game: Day 1 - Toss,
Zimbabwe 1st innings: Day 1 - Lunch, Day 1 - Tea, Day 1 - Light,

ZIMBABWE TAKE THE LIGHT AT 154 FOR TWO

Zimbabwe accepted an offer of bad light at at 154 for two in their first innings on the opening day of the second Test match against South Africa in Bulawayo on Friday.

At that stage the home side had lost two quick qickets after Alistair Campbell and Dion Ebrahim had put on 152 for the first wicket.

Campbell was caught at point off a thick outside edge off Lance Klusener for 77 and two runs later Ebrahim edged Claude Henderson to Shaun Pollock at slip for 71. It was the third time in Ebrahim's eight-Test career that the opener had lost his wicket for 71.

As the light worsened under grey skies, Stuart Carlisle and Hamilton Masakadza deemed it prudent to seek refuge in the dressing room after an offer of bad light was made by the umpires.

ZIMBABWE OPENING STAND STILL UNBROKEN AT TEA

Zimbabwe's opening batsmen Alistair Campbell and Dion Ebrahim were still unbeaten at tea on the first day of the second Test, but dour batting against keen South African bowling earned them only 56 runs in the afternoon session. At tea Zimbabwe were 126 without loss (Campbell 67, Ebrahim 55).

After lunch, left-arm spinner Claude Henderson tied down the batsmen, especially Ebrahim, but Campbell finally cut him backward of point to reach his fifty. It took another 50 minutes after lunch before the hundred partnership came up; in this, the fifth Test match between the two countries, it was the first time at any point that Zimbabwe could claim any advantage.

This, one would expect, would be the time for the batsmen to open up somewhat, but they were unable or unwilling to do so, preferring to continue to graft in traditional Test-match fashion. With the total on 116, they played out four maiden overs in succession before Ebrahim finally reached his fifty in just under four hours.

Realistically, though, it could well be the best game for their side, as it is hard to imagine Zimbabwe's bowlers, massacred in Harare, bowling South Africa out twice on this pitch; once would be a major achievement.

ZIMBABWE OPENERS GET TO LUNCH WITHOUT MISHAP IN BULAWAYO

A sound opening partnership of 70, still unbroken at lunch, gave Zimbabwe an ideal start in the Second Test match between Zimbabwe and South Africa that started in Bulawayo on Friday. On a good batting pitch Alistair Campbell and Dion Ebrahim defied the powerful South African attack to give their team a good platform for the innings.

The weather in Bulawayo was most uncharacteristic for September: cold, overcast and with a strong blustery wind, and rain a possibility. Noel Peck's Queens pitch was much more characteristic, looking a beauty for batting, and he does not expect it to give undue assistance to the spinners. Heath Streak won the toss for Zimbabwe this time and was delighted to be able to bat.

Indeed there were no early problems for openers Alistair Campbell and Dion Ebrahim, who quickly broke Zimbabwe's previous record opening partnership against South Africa - of 13. Campbell got off the mark by driving Shaun Pollock wide of mid-on for four, and practically the only appeal of the first hour came when Ebrahim tried to emulate his second-innings dismissal in Harare by padding up to Pollock.

The fifty partnership was raised in 87 minutes, but runs then came more slowly as South Africa put back their field and adopted a less attacking approach. They were still together at lunch, Campbell with 40 and Ebrahim 28, having done all their team could have asked of them.

Leg-spinning all-rounder Paul Strang returned to the Zimbabwe team; he last played in India in November last year, when he suffered a recurrence of an arm injury during the First Test at Delhi. He replaces pace bowler Douglas Hondo, whose performance in Harare seemed to indicate that he is not yet ready for Test cricket.

In another change, Craig Wishart had the predictability of the selectors confirmed when he found that, yet again, one bad Test has cost him his place. Stuart Carlisle, injured against West Indies, replaced him in the Zimbabwean team. South Africa have kept their winning side.

ZIMBABWE ELECT TO BAT FIRST IN SECOND TEST

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak won the toss and elected to bat on the first morning of the second Test match in Bulawayo on Friday.

Zimbabwe included leg-spinning all-rounder Paul Strang for the first time since he played in India in November last year, when he suffered a recurrence of an arm injury during the First Test at Delhi.

Since then, the Zimbabwean selectors have ignored him, alternating between the youngsters, leg-spinner Brian Murphy and slow left-armer Raymond Price.

Now, with Murphy still recovering from injury and two spinners recommended for the Queens Sports Club pitch, they have returned to the 31-year-old Strang. He replaces pace bowler Douglas Hondo, whose performance in Harare seemed to indicate that he is not yet ready for Test cricket.

In another change, Craig Wishart had the predictability of the selectors confirmed when he found that, yet again, one bad Test has cost him his place. Stuart Carlisle, injured against West Indies, replaces him in the Zimbabwean team. South Africa have kept their winning side.

The weather in Bulawayo was most uncharacteristic for September: cold, overcast and with a strong blustery wind, and rain a possibility. As usual, Noel Peck's Queens pitch looks a beauty for batting, and he does not expect it to give undue assistance to the spinners.

The teams were as follows:

Zimbabwe: Dion Ebrahim, Alistair Campbell, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Carlisle, +Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Guy Whittall, *Heath Streak, Paul Strang, Travis Friend, Raymond Price.

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