BULAWAYO: South Africa Emerging captain Mihlali Mpongwana completed his century on the third day of the first unofficial Test against Zimbabwe Emerging as the visitors closed in on victory at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday.
The visiting skipper struck 133 off 183 balls (12 fours, 1 six) and then watched team-mate Dewan Marais up the ante at the other end with a dashing 73 off 59 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes) before deciding to declare on 586 for six.
That left the South Africans 370 ahead and the home side then limped to the close on 123 for four, still trailing by a massive 247 with the final day to come on Sunday.
It was another impressive overall performance by coach Malibongwe Maketa’s charges, who started the third morning on 432 for three with Mpongwana and Dian Forrester resuming their unbroken 208-run stand.
The pair took their partnership to 253 for the fourth wicket, before it was eventually broken when the latter was trapped leg before wicket for 147 off 219 balls (11 fours, 1 six) by Tapiwa Mufudza (3/159).
But Mpongwana remained firm as he watched Marais tear into the bowling with his flying half-century that took SA close to 600 when they eventually decided to end their innings.
In reply, Zimbabwe made a fair start as they reached 44 for none when Jade de Klerk, the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with two for 33, bowled Nick Welch for 17.
Just four runs later and Codi Yusuf (1/17) removed captain Takudzwanashe Kaitano for 29. Larvet Masunda was forced to retire hurt for four, with Antum Naqvi (22) then becoming De Klerk’s second victim with the total on 87.
Alistair Frost (34*) and Nyasha Mayavo (9) looked to have then settled things before the close, but the latter was cleaned up by Tristan Luus (1/22) in the penultimate over of the day leaving the hosts with a tall ask on the final day.
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 vs SA Emerging Men – 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
Allan Donald: The ‘White Lightning’ makes it to the 6th on the list. Donald was not just South Africa’s best fast bowler in his time but also World’s number 1 bowler. He along with Shaun Pollock was one of the best bowling duos in the world.
Allan Donald was the first South African bowler to pick 300 international wickets. He drew the path for Pollock, Steyn, and Ntini. He is the 2nd highest wicket-taker in ODi’s for the Proteas with 272 wickets to his name. Overall, he is their 4th highest wicket-taker in all formats. He has bagged 601 wickets in his professional career.
Devine Melon
Sunil Gavaskar was out off the first ball of a Test match thrice in his career – Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs and he ended his career scoring 34 Test centuries. But did you know he was out three times off the first ball of a Test? The bowlers to dismiss him were: Geoff Arnold (Edgbaston, 1974), Malcolm Marshall (Kolkata, 1984) and Imran Khan (Jaipur, 1987).
DeathDancer
All four innings of a test on the same day – The 2000 Lord\’s Test between England and West Indies saw all the four innings being played on the same day. This feat was repeated 11 years later in the famous Cape Town Test where South Africa bowled out Australia for 47.