Zimbabwe A Team Tri-Series - http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 A- First innings report
South Africa A have set Australia A a huge target of 299, in a match of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jacobus-Andries-Rudolph-c65216, at the Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe, July 5, 2011.
On a bright http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sundeep-Bhupendra-Patel-c91815 day, it was South Africa A’s captain who won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Proteas side came out of the blocks, all http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jonathan-David-Vandiar-c69105, looked in supreme touch as both batsmen clobbered the Australian attack all around the Park. They put up a century stand for the first wicket,
scoring more than a run a ball.
The Austrlians had to wait until the 21st over to get their first breakthrough. It came courtesy of a run out, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Michael-Lyon-c78822 came together to dismiss Vandiar. He made 60 off 57 balls, which included five boundaries and a
six.
However, the wicket could not slow the tempo set by the opening batsmen as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harold-William-Stephenson-c61707 O’ keefe, but by then his side had moved
onto 187.
Rudolph was well caught by wicket-keeper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TD-Paine-c2652, falling just 10 runs short from a deserved century. Meanwhile, on the other end, Rossouw completed his half century, which included three maximum hits.
The Australian bowlers, although for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Marsh-c1974, it looked as the Australians could make a comeback in the match.
However, all hopes were shattered as a late surge by Roelof http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Graham-Robert-Cowdrey-c60631 der Merwe, who remained unbeaten on 40 off just 30 balls, titled the balance of the match in South Africa’s favor.
His tally consisted of two boundaries and a couple of hits out of the ground, in a 38-minute stint on the crease. The other unbeaten player was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RK-Kleinveldt-c2334, who made 13 from just 3 balls, which included two massive sixes.
At the end of 50 overs, South Africa A had posted a commendable target of 298 for the loss seven wickets.
The Australian bowlers, who until now were economical in the tournament, had no answer to the South African power hitting. The pick of the bowlers was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Young-c98322 pacer, Mitchell Marsh, who surprisingly, only bowled five overs but took two wickets, giving away
only 15 runs.
Other than that, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DA-Warner-c1301 all chipped in with a wicket a piece.
It will be interesting to see how the Australia A batsman approach their innings, as they would have to score a run a ball from the word go in order to chase this target.
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