South Africa win ODI series in Bulawayo

South Africa won the second ODI against Zimbabwe by 61 run in Bulawayo, thus winning the series with a game to play, after the home bowlers did a good job to remove the Proteas for 257, but the batsmen failed to capitalise.

South Africa won the second ODI against Zimbabwe by 61 run in Bulawayo, thus winning the series with a game to play, after the home bowlers did a good job to remove the Proteas for 257, but the batsmen failed to capitalise.

The visitors weren't at their best with the bat but a half century from Faf du Plessis and some cameos down the order still ensured a defendable score. Zimbabwe were all out for 196, with Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell taking three wickets each.

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl first, an odd decision given the hot, dry conditions, and the Proteas started well enough. Opening pairing Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla put on 47 for the first wicket.

Amla was the first to fall, for 15, to John Nyumbu, who has become a massive fan favourite judging by the crowd's reactions, as well as the Proteas' nemesis. He bowled Amla around his legs, and also bagged De Kock for 38.

The highlight of the knock was AB de Villiers' comedy run out. He nudged the ball down the leg side and assumed it had passed the keeper, but Richmond Mutumbami was standing up, stopped the ball with his legs and ran the batsman out, and even AB had to laugh at his own error.

Du Plessis meanwhile was on his way to a second fifty in a row, while JP Duminy and David Miller added scores of 36 and 45 respectively. They were bagged by Prosper Utseya and Brian Vitori, both of whom took two wickets.

The tail added valuable runs, with Parnell making 24 and Kyle Abbott 23, before the Proteas found themselves all out in the final over. It was only the third time that Zimbabwe had dismissed their neighbours.

Zim's innings started badly and only got worse, as the top three were out before the score had reached 30. Only Sean Williams managed to resist, making 55, and was the top scorer by 30 runs.

The hosts were all out in the final over, despite some hefty Vitori sixes to keep the fans dancing, as Nyumbu was caught behind off Imran Tahir's bowling. The final ODI is on 21 August at the same venue.

<b>Zimbabwe:</b> Sikandar Raza, Richmond Mutumbami, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura, Luke Jongwe, Neville Madziva, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, John Nyumbu

<b>South Africa:</b> Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir.

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