South Africa complete series whitewash

News

Cricket365
August 22, 2014

Zimbabwe spoke a big game, but ultimately failed to come to the proverbial party, as South Africa concluded a comfortable seven-wicket victory – and convincing series three-nil series triumph – in the third and final ODI at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday.

A host XI sporting three changes, most notably the absence of former captain Brendan Taylor, stumbled to a poor score of 165 all out in one delivery short of 40 overs.

The tally, in fact, would have read considerably less – were it not for skipper Elton Chigumbura's combative 90. The career-best vigil spanned 122 deliveries – and featured 10 fours and back-to-back sixes off the bowling of seamer Wayne Parnell.

The Proteas, thereafter, achieved the modest target with all of 136 deliveries to spare. Opener Quinton de Kock led the charge after veteran duo Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers were rested. De Kock cherished a commanding 84 from just 75 deliveries.

The left-handed Rilee Rossouw, meanwhile, lamented a first-ball duck. Fellow new cap Mthokozisi Shezi, though, appreciated economical figures of one for eight in half a dozen promising overs. The recalled Marchant de Lange, playing ODI cricket for the first time in about two years, gathered a commendable haul of three for 31.

Leading the side instead of de Villiers, the in-form Faf du Plessis and quickfire JP Duminy were soon at hand for a complementary 40 and 28 not out respecitvely. The latter sealed the result with a big six over long-on.

The Zimbabweans, South Africans – and Australia – will start a seven-match ODI tri-series at the Harare Sports Club on Monday. The final will be played on 6 September.

<b>Zimbabwe:</b> Hamilton Masakadza, Richmond Mutumbami, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura, Luke Jongwe, Prosper Utseya, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Tafadzwa Kamungoz.

<b>South Africa:</b> Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Ryan McLaren, Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Marchant de Lange, Mthokozisi Shezi.