BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, 23 August 2007 — Half-centuries to Graeme Smith, Gulam Bodi and AB de Villiers steered South Africa to a five-wicket victory with 19 balls to spare in the first One-Day International against Zimbabwe yesterday.
Captain Smith scored 50, debutant Bodi made 51 and De Villiers weighed in with 63 as South Africa overhauled Zimbabwe’s 206 all out, including five run-outs, from 50 overs.The home side reached 68 for two before they lost five wickets for four runs to crash to 72 for seven in the 24th over. Elton Chigumbura (59) and Gary Brent (59 not out) picked up the pieces with conservative batting that yielded a partnership of 115 for the eighth wicket.
Although pace bowler Chris Mpofu dismissed Loots Bosman with the fourth ball of South Africa’s reply, the visitors were never tested by the small target and Zimbabwe’s modest attack on a slow pitch. Bodi batted patiently in stands of 72 with Smith and 74 with De Villiers to keep the visitors on course for victory. Vernon Philander, who scored 17 not out, ended the match in a hurry by smashing leg-spinner Timycen Maruwa for three fours from five deliveries.
India A Thrash Sri Lanka A
to Claim Series Win
In Nairobi, India A thrashed Sri Lanka A by nine wickets at the Nairobi Gymkhana club yesterday to claim a series win in the triangular one-day tournament that also included host nation Kenya.
Batting first, the Sri Lankans were put on the backfoot by a menacing Indian pace attack which took full control forcing the islanders to collapse for 165 without any of the batsmen scoring meaningful runs.
Seamer Yo Mahesh grabbed three wickets while Irfan Pathan and Pragyan Ojha picked up two apiece to set up the victory in a match reduced to 39 overs each side following early morning rain. Chasing the target, India lost the early wicket of Praveen Kumar (26), who was caught and bowled by Chanaka Welagedera. But fellow opener Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Mohammed Kaif crafted a 115-run partnership to clinch the easy victory.
Pujara, who is off to join the under-19 team for the World Cup qualifying tournament in South Africa, finished unbeaten on 68 and Kaif contributed a solid 59 from as many balls as the Indian side ended their two-nation African tour on a high note.
India A had earlier won both of the two three-day matches against Kenya in the coastal city of Mombasa.
