South Africa 26-0 in reply to Zimbabwe's 419-9

South Africa were 26 for no wicket in reply to Zimbabwe's first innings total of 419 for nine declared at the close of the third day of the second Test on Sunday.

Andy Flower made 67 for Zimbabwe, his 12th score of 50 or more in his last 15 Test innings, and anchored the home side's innings, facing 99 balls and hitting 10 fours.

South Africa won the first Test in the two-match series by nine wickets in Harare last Tuesday.

Saturday's play had been abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain and a wet outfield and Zimbabwe resumed on 154 for two.

South Africa's left-arm spinner Claude Henderson took four for 143 in a marathon spell that began in the 17th over of the day and continued through the rest of the innings.

Henderson's 67 overs were the most ever bowled against Zimbabwe in a Test innings.

His dismissals included Flower in the fourth over after lunch.

Flower, who had scored 142 and 199 not out in the first Test in Harare, received a delivery from Henderson which bounced steeply and turned sharply, hitting his glove before looping to Neil McKenzie at silly point.

Flower, who had attacked the bowling and often found the gaps square on both sides of the wicket, was at the crease for just over two hours.

His dismissal ended a fourth-wicket stand of 86 of which his partner, Stuart Carlisle, scored just 19.

Flower had a life with his score on 57 and the total at 246 for three when television umpire Graeme Evans turned down a run out appeal.

Slow motion replays suggested Flower's bat was in the air when wicketkeeper Mark Boucher broke the wicket after taking McKenzie's throw from square leg following an aborted run.

However, later replays showed Boucher had spilled the ball in the act of breaking the wicket.

Missed Stumps

Flower also came close to being run out on 41 and 63 but the South Africans' throws missed the stumps on both occasions.

On 49 he edged a ball from medium-pacer Lance Klusener but cut the next delivery through cover point for four to reach his half-century off 79 balls.

Henderson also dismissed Guy Whittall and Heath Streak, who had shared a seventh-wicket stand of 47 after three Zimbabwe wickets had fallen between lunch and tea.

Whittall and Streak took Zimbabwe to tea on 332 for six and took the score to 377 before Streak, on 31, drove a ball from Henderson to Klusener at mid off.

Whittall went two overs later, with the score still on 377, when he attempted a reverse sweep against a Henderson delivery and was caught by Pollock at backward point for 16.

Travis Friend was the last man out before the declaration, bowled by an off cutter from Pollock for four.

Paul Strang, who replaced Streak, attacked the bowling from the outset and finished unbeaten on 38 off 28 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Pollock bowled immaculately in taking two for 40 in 28 overs, 14 of which were maidens.

Zimbabwe were unable to make a breakthrough when South Africa batted. Herschelle Gibbs was 15 not out and Gary Kirsten 11 not out at the close.

South Africa took the new ball in the second over of the day and in the seventh over Hamilton Masakadza edged a delivery from fast bowler Andre Nel and was caught by Boucher for 13.

That was the visitors' sole success of the morning session, which ended with Zimbabwe on 255 for three.

Carlisle and Grant Flower shared 66 runs in a subdued partnership for the fifth wicket before Flower was run out for 44 at the bowler's end by Jacques Kallis's throw from backward square leg.

Three overs later Carlisle was given out lbw to a ball from Pollock for 49, although the ball seemed to take the inside edge before the hitting his pad.

Also read:
Day 1: Zimbabwe make solid start
Day 2: Second day of Test abandoned

Mail Cricket Editor