South Africa surge to series victory

Left-arm spinner Claude Henderson snapped up four for 17 as South Africa surged to a series-clinching 148-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international on Saturday.

South Africa, who won the opening game by 153 runs, were spurred to 272 for seven in their 50 overs by Herschelle Gibbs and Jonty Rhodes with 69 and 56 respectively.

Zimbabwe were bundled out for 124 in 40.1 overs -- their lowest total against South Africa -- to give the touring team a 2-0 winning lead in the three-match series.

The home country never effectively recovered after being reduced to 51 for four, including the dismissal of the prolific Andy Flower for two, and their last six wickets later tumbled for 29.

Zimbabwe earlier delivered an improved bowling performance but they missed three chances, the most costly being a let-off for Rhodes when he had scored 17.

Jacques Kallis was the first to be missed, on 14, when he sent a delivery from medium pacer Mluleki Nkala arching to third man, where Hamilton Masakadza dropped the catch as he ran forward.

Eight overs later, Kallis dragged a ball from leg-spinner Paul Strang onto his stumps to be bowled for 26, ending a second wicket stand of 65 with Gibbs.

Neil McKenzie escaped on 13 when he drove Guy Whittall straight back to the medium pacer, who managed to get his right hand to the ball but could not hold on to it.

Gibbs made his 69 off 77 balls, with nine fours and a six, before he was brilliantly caught by Guy Whittall diving to his right at short mid-wicket off Strang.

Zimbabwe dropped their third catch when Alistair Campbell, fielding on the long-on boundary, scooped a chance from Rhodes, who had made 17, over the ropes for six.

McKenzie was out for 40 when he pulled a ball from left-arm spinner Grant Flower to mid-wicket, ending a fourth wicket partnership of 79 with Rhodes.

Rhodes went four overs later when he top-edged a pull shot off Flower to Strang at short fine leg, having scored his 56 from 45 balls, with six fours and two sixes.

Zimbabwe ran into trouble in the ninth over when pace bowler Shaun Pollock had Strang caught behind for 19 as he went to drive.

Nine deliveries later Masakadza guided a ball past the slip cordon and was run out for a duck at the bowler's end by Kallis's throw from short third man.

Campbell went 14 balls after that, driving paceman Kallis to Kirsten at mid off.

South Africa then struck the critical blow when Andy Flower chopped a delivery from fast bowler Makhaya Ntini onto his stumps.

Stuart Carlisle and Grant Flower added 45 for the fifth wicket but the dismissal of Carlisle for 31, pushing forward to a turning delivery from Henderson to be caught behind, swung the game decisively to South Africa.

Mail Cricket Editor