South Africa achieved the expected crushing victory over Zimbabwe in the first Test at Newlands, wrapping up the tail 45 minutes before the scheduled close of play on Saturday.
Although the visitors showed more backbone in their second innings, there were still too many soft dismissals to prevent this Test becoming the 18th in the history of the game to be completed within two days.
A sense of normality returned to Newlands in the morning session. As was widely expected, Graeme Smith declared on the overnight score of 340 for three, setting the visitors the task of scoring 286 to force South Africa to bat again.
Shaun Pollock bowled well within himself, but Makhaya Ntini displayed aggression in generating some lift to disconcert the batsman. He was responsible for both wickets of the opening session, first having Stuart Matsikenyeri caught at short leg fending off a rising delivery, and then having Barney Rogers taken behind the wicket. Rogers played some flashy shots before lashing out once too often.
Dion Ebrahim and Hamilton Masakadza restored some balance before lunch, both playing confidently as the sting went out of the South African attack. The early assistance for the bowlers on the first day had all but disappeared as the ball failed to swing significantly. Ebrahim in particular took on the short bowling and looked comfortable. By the break the deficit had been reduced to 191 runs.
They continued to impress after the interval, putting together a partnership of 98 in 30 overs. This was easily the best for this wicket by a Zimbabwean pair against South Africa. The attack continued to look listless, and the ground fielding was also found wanting on occasion. One particular lapse denied the home side a run out with Masakadza stranded after his partner had slipped and fallen turning for a second run.
On the stroke of drinks, Masakadza cut Boje straight to backward point to start a disastrous collapse which saw five wickets fall for 29 within 13 overs. Brendan Taylor and Tatenda Taibu perished to good catches attempting extravagent strokes, while Elton Chigumbura was clean bowled hitting out against Boje.
The last hope of batting out the day ended with Ebrahim being adjudged leg before to Charl Langeveldt in the final over before tea, although replays susggested the ball might have cleared the stumps. The swing bowler was unable to complete this over when play resumed, leaving the field with a strained hamstring. With AB de Villiers still nursing a finger injured while fielding, two substitutes were required.
The experienced duo of Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut held out for a while. They share two Test record partnerships for Zimbabwe, but this time their stand was worth only 28 before Streak edged to the reliable hands of Herschelle Gibbs in the slips. This was the signal for Blignaut to go on the rampage. He eventually smashed six sixes and three fours, the majority of them from Nicky Boje’s bowling, in compiling 61 off just 58 balls before being last man out.
Jacques Kallis was named Man of the Match, but was unable to receive the award in person as he was already on the treatment table. South Africa now go to the second Test with him, Pollock and Langeveldt all injured. Zimbabwe will take some comfort from holding up the attack until the new ball was almost due, but are still light years away from being worthy Test opponents. – Sapa