South Africa are all smiles after whitewashing Zimbabwe 3-0
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
South Africa completed their 3-0 whitewashing of Zimbabwe behind opening batsman Quinton de Kock’s superb knock of 84.
Despite scoring a career-best 90, Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura was unable to save his side from suffering a seven-wicket defeat.
South Africa’s stand-in skipper, Faf du Plessis, would have been pleased with his decision to bowl first after Zimbabwe opener Hamilton Masakadza was given out lbw off the bowling of Kyle Abbott for four runs.
Richmond Mutumbami failed to trouble the scorers as he was caught by debutant Rillee Rossouw at second slip off the bowling of Marchant de Lange.
Chigumbura and Sikandar Raza stabilised the innings with a 51-run partnership before Raza was caught by Aaron Phangiso at deep square leg off the bowling of Ryan McLaren for 30.
Sean Williams scored 17 runs before he was clean bowled by Phangiso.
Following Williams’ dismissal, Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order completely collapsed as they went from 89/4 to 119/9.
However, Chigumbura did not go down without a fight and managed to score a career-best 90, which came off 122 balls and included 10 boundaries and two sixes, before he was clean bowled by de Lange.
Chigumbura hit 10 boundaries and two sixes during his knock of 90
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Thanks to Chigumbura, Zimbabwe managed to make 165 before being bowled out.
De Lange was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Abott and Wayne Parnell snapped up two wickets apiece and McLaren, Phangiso and debutant Mthokozisi Shezi chipped in with one wicket each.
Chasing 166 to win, South Africa got off to a horrible start as Rossouw was run out by Malcolm Waller for a golden duck.
De Kock and du Plessis made up for the early loss of Rossouw with a 73-run partnership before du Plessis was cleaned up by Williams for 40.
De Kock and Jean Paul (JP) Duminy kept the runs flowing with a 70-run partnership, during which de Kock brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Williams at deep midwicket off the bowling of Tinashe Panyangara.
De Kock’s brilliant knock of 84 came off 75 balls and included seven boundaries and two sixes.
De Kock was named Man of the Match for his spectacular innings of 84
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Duminy and David Miller finished things to complete the 3-0 whitewash.
Williams and Panyangara claimed one wicket each.
Chigumbura was gutted to have lost the series, and said: “The bowlers did well throughout the series. Nyumu bowled well thoughout the series. Utseya and Williams did very well. Williams did very well with the bat throughout too. We are looking forward to the World Cup and we wanted to have a look at a few guys. I think our batting has to improve in the next coming days. If I get myself in, it gets easier. I know I can hit boundaries when the time is right.”
Du Plessis was ecstatic to have whitewashed Zimbabwe, and said: “We started the series thinking about beating Zimbabwe convincingly and to win 3-0, we are very happy. It’s good to see someone like Marchant pump up the gas. Shezi also bowled well. It was unfortunate to see Rilee get out early. Today it was nice for me to express myself as there was no Hash. With Hash, you don’t need to score boundaries. Australia is coming and they are a really powerful team. It will be a nice challenge for us.”
De Kock was named Man of the Match, and said: “It’s good, I am enjoying every moment of it (the form). I don’t really plan much. I go to nets and hit a couple of balls, then I see how the game pans out. The pitches have been quite slow, it has turned a lot in the morning. It has been a bit difficult. But batting second was slightly easier. It changes every game. I am ok with it (missing out on 100s).”