ZIMBABWE’S SAD STORY CONTINUES

Zimbabwe continued with their dismal show when they lost to South Africa by seventeen runs in Harare yesterday. The result means the hosts are out of the Coca Cola Tri series final which will now feature SA and Australia on Friday.

 Zimbabwe XI’s stand in captain Vusi Sibanda won the toss and sent South Africa in to bat. The visitors opened their account as usual with Captain Jacques Rudolph and Jonathan Vandiar. Their partnership yielded 39 runs off 77 deliveries and lasted at least forty minutes before the skipper made his way back to the pavilion having contributed 27 runs to the total. Rudolph mistimed a Prosper Utseya flighted delivery straight in Sibanda’s waiting arms.

Vandir fell victim to the bowling of Elton Chigumbura who seems to be slowly getting back his much talked about form. The South Africa opener had his middle stump up rooted by the former skipper for twenty runs after facing 36 deliveries. The next man to walk to the showers was Justin Ontong again mistiming an attempted hook shot played straight to a waiting Chris Mpofu for 14 runs courtesy of a Chigumbura delivery. Roussouw was quickly joined by the wicket keeper Heino Kuhn who also didn’t trouble the scorers much after contributing only 12 runs to the total being run out by a Chigumbura and Utseya effort.

Van Jaarsveld was the next man to join the rest of the team in the pavilion after failing all systems out by debutant Brian Vitori for 38 runs off 42 balls, leaving the visitors on 210 for the loss of six. Wonder boy Vitori was to shine one more time when tore apart Roussouw’s middle stump at 92 off 93, in the next over he got rid of Venon Philander for a mere ten runs. Van de Merwe was joined by Kleinveldt in the 47^th over. The pair moved along smoothly up to the last over with the former on 14 while the latter was taken out by Mpofu to end the South African innings at 244 runs for eight wickets.

 Southern Rocks medium pace-man was the pick of the Zimbabwean bowlers with three wickets for 35 runs while Chigumbura picked up two wickets for 38 runs. Mpofu bowled exceptionally well although he was disappointed by his fielders who dropped more than four catches with Regis Chakabva being the main culprit. Chakabva behind the stumps and Utseya at the covers dropped these crucial catches in between.

Zimbabwe started they campaign with Hamilton Masakadza and Sibanda; they were aggressive from the first ball. Sibanda was the first to depart from the after being trapped leg before wicket by Rusty Theron for 22 runs. Chakabva then stepped in and started building a almost meaningful partnership with Masakadza which produced 66 runs. Masakadza’s aggression cost him as he tried to drive through the covers but was caught by Vandiar off Theron’s bowling for 47 runs off 56 deliveries. Mutizwa’s stepped in and started rebuilding with Chakabva and he contributed a well played 39 runs before being run out.Chigumbura was bowled for a duck then three overs later Craig Ervine played one to third man for  15 runs off 20 deliveries. Chakabva was next to leave after being caught by Van Jaarsvelt for 50 runs in 48 balls.

Waller attempted the target by triggering a six and a four in one over then departing the next delivery for 21 runs off 10 runs. Leaving Utseya with debutant Natsai Mushangwe on the crease and the latter didn’t do much to change the state of affairs on the score board. Utseya also followed right after nicking a Alexander and being caught by the wicket keeper. Then Vitori and Mpofu tried to salvage some pride for Zimbabwe by offering some resistance before the former was eventually caught behind for an entertaining 13 runs off 10 balls.  

  

Photo @JEKESAI

                                       His exellent batting efforts went in vain