CARDIFF, 6 July 2003 — Opener Herschelle Gibbs returned to form in style to help South Africa coast to a nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in their one-day triangular series match yesterday.
Gibbs, who had scored 11 runs in three previous matches in the series, thumped an unbeaten 93 from 97 balls as South Africa easily overhauled Zimbabwe’s 174 for eight with more than 15 overs to spare at Sophia Gardens.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith weighed in with 58, sharing in a stand of 154 with his opening partner.
Heath Streak top-scored for Zimbabwe with 54 in their 50 overs but his side found run-scoring difficult after being asked to bat first in overcast conditions.
Gibbs took time to click into gear and enjoyed a huge let-off on 17 when he was bowled off a no-ball by Andy Blignaut in the 10th over.
The reprieve brought him out of his shell, though, and he began to cut loose, racing to a half-century that he brought up with a six over long-on off Douglas Marillier.
Smith too was quick to punish Zimbabwe’s wayward attack and reached his own 50 with a fine pull to the mid-wicket fence.
Gibbs took the total past 150 with another six, this time off Travis Friend, before Sean Ervine ended the partnership when Smith got a faint nick behind to Tatenda Taibu.
Gibbs was in no mood to hang around after that and wrapped up victory with a straight driven four, his 12th boundary of an entertaining knock.
Streak’s innings also featured some lusty blows, coming at a vital time after Zimbabwe had been reduced to 92 for six.
The Zimbabwe captain shared a seventh wicket stand of 52 with Ervine but South Africa’s bowlers, who shared the wickets around, always exerted control after a fine opening spell from Shaun Pollock.
South Africa’s former captain did not pick up a wicket but conceded just eight runs in his first seven overs, including three maidens. The win was South Africa’s third in the series, and they top the standings with 17 points, ahead of England (10) and Zimbabwe (9).
Bangladesh Beat Australian
Academy by Two Wickets
In Brisbane, Australia, Bangladesh brought off a morale-boosting two-wicket win in the second match of their Australian cricket tour against Australian Cricket Academy yesterday.
Set 230 to win from a maximum of 73 overs, Bangladesh got home with two wickets and six balls to spare on the third and final day at Allan Border Field.
Captain Khaled Mahmud clinched a tense victory with an on-drive for four after some nervous moments in the final session.
Bangladesh were 113 for four at tea with 35 overs remaining but lost wickets at regular intervals.
Mohammad Ashraful (61) kept Bangladesh on pace with an attractive innings including eight fours and two sixes, but he was dismissed with 96 still needed and five wickets left.
