BULAWAYO: Andile Mogakane claimed four wickets for South Africa Emerging on the opening day of the second unofficial Test against Zimbabwe Emerging but it was the hosts who held a slight advantage in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
This after Antum Naqvi’s unbeaten century (130 off 211 balls, 21 fours, 1 six) helped them reach the close on 307 for six after they won the toss and batted first at Queens Sports Club.
There was also 90 (165 balls, 13 fours, 1 six) from captain Takudzwanashe Kaitano, while Nicholas Welch blazed 46 off 36 balls to start the innings in a match the home side must win if they want to take anything away from the series.
South Africa, who won the opening unofficial Test of the two-match series convincingly, were put under pressure from the start thanks to openers Kaitano and Welch after they put on 62 inside the opening 11 overs to give their side a strong start.
A double blow from Mogakane – first he removed Welch and followed that by taking out Larvet Masunda (5) – then pulled the tourists back with the score on 76 for two. However, the skipper and Naqvi put on an assured 133 for the third wicket to put their side in control.
Another twin strike by Mogakane, who ended with four for 42, again threatened to alter the course of the innings with Kaitano and Alistair Frost (0) his victims.
Caleb Seleka (1/76) also took a wicket at that stage when he dismissed wicketkeeper Ryan Kamwemba for one leaving Zimbabwe on 218 for five. But again there was a partnership of substance as Naqvi and Ronak Patel (19) put on 62 for the sixth wicket, before the latter was removed by Andile Simelane (1/37).
The former was still there at the close, helping the home side cross 300 and end proceedings in a strong position.
South Africa Emerging squad against Zimbabwe Emerging
Mihlali Mpongwana (captain, Western Province), Jade de Klerk (Border), Dian Forrester (Free State), Valentine Kitime (Western Province), Modiri Litheko (Titans), Tristan Luus (Dolphins), Dewan Marais (Easterns), Andile Mogakane (Warriors), Nipho Mpungose (Free State), Caleb Seleka (North West), Lesego Senokwane (North West), Andile Simelane (Dolphins), Codi Yusuf (Lions), and Ntando Zuma (KZN Inland).
Tour Itinerary
Four-Day Matches
01 – 04 August
Zimbabwe Emerging lost to SA Emerging Men by an innings and 186 runs – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
07 – 10 August
Zimbabwe Emerging vs SA Emerging Men – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
One-Day Matches
Tuesday, 13 August
Zimbabwe Emerging vs SA Emerging Men – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Thursday, 15 August
Zimbabwe Emerging vs SA Emerging Men – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Saturday, 17 August
Zimbabwe Emerging vs SA Emerging Men – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Source: cricket.co.za
Dale Steyn: With an HPI of 17.29, Dale Steyn is the 5th most famous South African Cricketer. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Dale Willem Steyn (; born 27 June 1983) is a South African former professional cricketer who played for the South African Cricket Team. He is often regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and the greatest Test bowler of his generation. During the 2007–08 season, Steyn achieved a tally of 78 wickets at an average of 16.24, and was subsequently rewarded with the ICC 2008 Test Cricketer of the Year Award. He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2013, and Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2013 in 2014’s Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. He was featured in Wisden Cricketers of the Decade at the end of 2019. He also was included in the ICC Test Team of the Decade at the end of 2020.Steyn dominated the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings during the peak of his career, for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014. Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan sits next on the list with 214 weeks. In terms of days, Steyn has spent 2,356 days at the top as of 6 October 2016. In October 2012, former South African test cricketer Allan Donald called the South African pace attack, which Steyn was part of, alongside Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, the best South Africa has ever produced. In December 2018, during the first Test against Pakistan, Steyn became the leading wicket taker for South Africa in Test cricket, previously held by all-rounder and former-captain Shaun Pollock.On 5 August 2019, Steyn announced his retirement from Test cricket, to focus on limited-overs cricket. Steyn announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on 31 August 2021.
Digital Goddess
South Africa has made quite a record in the world of cricket. However, one record they have maintained for years is bringing the fastest bowlers in international cricket tournaments. When we talk about the fastest bowlers from South Africa, we cannot skip mentioning Allan Donald, popularly called the ‘White Lightning’ for his incredible bowling speed. Additionally, cricket is one of the most played games in South Africa. That clearly shows that the country hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003.
RawSkills
Sport Trivia: Which was the first Olympic Games in which Ghana competed as an independent nation? Answer: Rome 1960 – Having competed in Helsinki in 1952 as Gold Coast, Ghana did not send a team to the 1956 Games in Melbourne. By the time the 1960 Games came around, the country had achieved full independence from Great Britain, (in 1957) and was officially known as Ghana.