OWN CORRESPONDENT, Durban | Wednesday 11.00pm.
ZIMBABWE beat South Africa for the first time on home soil when they triumphed by two wickets at Kingsmead in Durban.
In a thrilling finale, the Zimbabweans scampered the winning run off the last ball, after a succession of dot-balls brought the required rate down to a run a ball in the last over, bowled by Jacques Kallis.
Both sides started their respective innings’ well, but collapsed in the middle order, leaving the hard work to the tail enders.
Lance Klusener (65 not-out) did the job for the South African, as he and Jacques Kallis (52) starred in an 82-run partnership that steered South Africa from 112/6 to a defendable 222/7.
South Africa seemed to have the match in the bag when Staurt Carlisle’s dismissal left Zimbabwe in reeling on 107/6, but their finishing was not up to scratch and the match slipped away in the latter stages.
Zimbabwe lost their first wicket for 13 runs as Grant Flower was dismissed leg-before wicket by Mornantau Hayward without scoring.
The next man out was Craig Wishart, who became the first of Henry Williams’ three victims when he was caught by Kallis at short-extra cover.
Former Natalian, Neil Johnson, the Zimbabwean danger-man, was in excellent form, and plundered 13 runs off Shaun Pollock’s first over before he was dismissed for 35 runs after playing a delivery from Jacques Kallis straight to Neil McKenzie.
Williams claimed his second wicket when he had Alistair Campbell caught bahind by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 11 runs.
Murray Goodwin became Lance Klusener’s 100th one-day victim when he trapped Murray Goodwin leg-before for 16 runs. Namtie Hayward also got into the leg-before act when he had Carlisle given out for six.
Jonty Rhodes then produced a spectacular leaping catch to get rid of Zimbabwean skipper Andy Flower, who top-scored with 59 runs.
Guy Whittall was the last Zimbabwean wicket to fall, he was run-out for 39 by Herschelle Gibbs.
The men left at the crease were Streak on 20 and Gary Brent on one.
The pick of the South African bowlers were Williams with three for 38 in his 10 overs and Hayward with two for 42 in his alotted overs.
Zimbabwe:
NC Johnson c McKenzie b Kallis 35
GW Flower lbw b Hayward 0
CB Wishart c Kallis b Williams 18
ADR Campbell c Boucher b Williams 11
MW Goodwin lbw b Klusener 16
*+A Flower c Rhodes b Williams 59
SV Carlisle lbw b Hayward 6
GJ Whittall run out (Gibbs) 39
HH Streak not out 20
GB Brent not out 1
Extras (lb 2, w 5, nb 11) 18
Total (8 wickets, 50 overs, 237 mins) 223
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