Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini took 4-45 on Thursday as South Africa restricted Zimbabwe to 173 for eight in a tri-series one-day international at the Rose Bowl.
After deciding to bat first at the new, $40-million state-of-the art venue, Zimbabwe crashed to 18 for three, and then to 74 for six before skipper Heath Streak scored an unbeaten 50 to save face.
Ntini dismissed the first four Zimbabwe batsmen. His seven-over opening spell included three wickets for six runs in eight balls. He began with a nine-ball over and dismissed Grant Flower for one as the stopgap opener failed to take his bat out of the way when leaving a delivery. In his next over, Ntini had Travis Friend caught in the slips, and then bowled Tatenda Taibu with successive balls. Taibu left the delivery, but it cut back sharply to hit the off stump.
Ntini’s spell overshadowed the performance of Shaun Pollock, who once again bowled beautifully without too much luck.
Zimbabwe slumped to 49 for four as Ntini took his fourth wicket by dismissing Sean Ervine for 17 after a 31-run fourth-wicket stand.
Opener Dion Ebrahim stonewalled for 21 overs and scored 27 runs off 56 balls, including three fours.
But it was a 54-run stand between Streak and Richard Sims (24) that briefly rescued the tourists. This was followed by an unfinished 44-run stand with Ray Price, who was 15 not out.
It was Zimbabwe’s third straight disappointing performance after beating England by four wickets in the series opener.
After managing 174 for eight in the nine-wicket loss to South Africa in Cardiff, the tourists were shot out for 92 the following day by England in Bristol.
After Ntini’s wicket-taking spell, fast bowler Andre Nel grabbed two wickets for five runs in 10 balls to dismiss Ebrahim and Stuart Matsikenyeri. He finished with 2-33 after conceding 12 runs in the last over.
Pollock finally ended the seventh-wicket stand by having Sims, the only change in the Zimbabwe team, caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher — his fourth catch of the innings.
South Africa takes on England in the final at Lord’s on Saturday, July 12. – Sapa-AP