Published: Oct 03, 2018, 08:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 02, 2018, 01:11 PM (IST)
South Africa’s brittle rejigged lineup was exposed by Zimbabwe’s purposeful bowlers in the first ODI, but the tourists are the ones who really need to shore up their batting in the second game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
Hamilton Masakadza‘s team must win at Manguang Oval to keep the series alive, and to do so it will require a far better batting performance than what was put up at Kimberly on Sunday. One four players managed to get into double-digit scores, with former captain Elton Chigumbura’s 27 the highest score. The loss of early wickets has long been a problem for Zimbabwe, and even against a shaky batting order such as the current South African one they cannot afford another poor outing.
South Africa’s depleted side was expected to push Zimbabwe in this short ODI series, and in bowling them out for 117 the bowlers performed exceptionally. A few rookie faces were given chances at Kimberley and the same can be expected given the low-profile tone of this series, but the management will hope for more solidity.
Date: October 3
Venue: Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Time: 16:30 IST
Weather: Partly cloudy wth a high of 19 degrees
Team News
South Africa
Dean Elgar’s first ODI in three years was a disappointment, and he could make way for Hashim Ama given how brittle the batting looked at Kimberly. Each of the bowlers used in the first ODI took at least one wicket, which leads to the question: Will Dale Steyn get an opportunity?
Probable XI: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Dean Elgar/Hashim Amla, 3 Reeza Hendricks, 4 Heinrich Klassen (wk), 5 Christiaan Jonker, 6 JP Duminy (caps), 7 Willem Mulder, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Kagiso Rabada/Dale Steyn, 10 Imran Tahir, 11 Lungi Ngidi
Zimbabwe
A full-strength team did not put up a fight in the first game, but given the return of so many players they are unlikely to be wholesale changes. Craig Ervine batted at No 3 on Sunday, having usually played in the lower middle order, and should resume there. None of the bowlers was poor in the last game, so it is foreseeable that the same XI is retained.
Probable XI: 1 Hamilton Masakadza (capt), 2 Solomon Mire, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Brendan Taylor (wk), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Peter Moor, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Wellington Masakadaz, 9 Brandon Mavuta, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Tendai Chatara
Statistics
– South Africa have won 14 of the 22 ODIs played at Mangaung Oval since 1992. One was a tie.
– JP Duminy is the most successful active South African batsman in ODIs versus Zimbabwe. In 17 ODIs he has made 679 runs at 97, with three centuries and two fifties.
– This will be the 200th ODI for Masakadza. Only three Zimbabweans have played 200 or more: the Flower brothers and Chigumbura.
Head-to-Head
– In 39 ODIs, South Africa have beaten Zimbabwe 36 times. Twice they have been beaten and there was once a no-result.
Quotes
“I’m carrying a lot of confidence from Sri Lanka. Very happy, I just want to keep putting my hand up. International cricket is a lovely challenge.” – Lungi Ngidi, Man of the Match at Kimberley
“We were a bit surprised by the pitch. We felt it would do a bit in the morning but it did more than that. The guys tried to knuckle down but couldn’t. Another 50-60 runs would have been better.” – Masakadza after the loss
