Wagging tail fails to prevent Zimbabwe defeat
Graeme Smith's half-century was one of three for the Proteas
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Wednesday, 22, Aug 2007 05:52
South Africa made heavy weather of their first one-day clash with Zimbabwe but still managed to win with 19 balls remaining in Bulawayo.
The Proteas reduced their African rivals to 72-7 at one stage but were forced to hit 210-5 to win after the Zimbabwe tail wagged at the Queens Sports Club.
After a dramatic mid-innings collapse which saw Propser Utseya's side lose five wickets in as many overs, it was up to Elton Chigumbura's tough 59 to haul his side out of the mire and make the game competitive.
Number nine batsman Gary Brent's 59 not out helped his side along until Zimbabwe were finally dismissed for 206 from the last ball of their 50 overs.
Embarrassingly for the hosts, the run-out of last man Christopher Mpofu was the fifth of the innings. As a result the best bowling figures were those of Vernon Philander, who took 2-15 from his eight overs.
In reply three South Africans scored half-centuries. Graeme Smith (50) and Gulam Bodi (51) recovered from the early loss of opener Loots Bosman for a duck, before AB de Villiers took his side to the brink of victory with a confident 63.
The middle fixture of the three-match series takes place in the Zimbabwean capital Harare on Saturday.