Zimbabwe lose openers in quick succession

Openers Sikandar Raza and Vusi Sibanda out in quick succession.

Sep 4, 2014

South Africa snared two quick wickets to remove the Zimbabwean openers Vusi Sibanda and Sikandar Raza, who departed at scores of 11 and 29 respectively. The hosts still 225 runs to win from 41 overs, though they need to conserve their wickets through major partnerships if they are to reach the target.

Zimbabwe were off to a cautious start, gathering 30 runs from the first six overs without losing any wicket, having seen Dale Steyn through his first spell of lethal pace. The first blow was sustained when Raza tried to pat a Wayne Parnell delivery and called for a single. It was quickly picked up by South African ODI skipper and dynamic fielder AB de Villiers, who uprooted the off-stump with a brilliant direct hit while non-striker Sibanda was yet to reach the crease.

Raza was looking good at 29 from 32 balls, with a possibility of a half-century looming over his head, when was removed by Parnell. He tried to cut a full-length delivery towards deep point, a region which he considers in his strong area. It was only caught by David Miller at the edge of the boundary as the tide suddenly turned in favour of the visitors.

With Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza at the crease, the hosts will now hope for a rescue act by the two in the form of a major partnership.

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