adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE now face a huge task to make it into the final of the One Day International triangular series on Saturday after Australia bounced back from the humiliation on Sunday to beat South Africa by 62 runs at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Having won the toss Proteas captain AB de Villiers threw the Aussies in to bat but a good contribution from opener Phil Hughes and some big hitting, at the end, from all-rounder Mitch Marsh gave the men from Down Under a competitive total.
In reply, the Proteas never threatened, despite a superb century from Faf du Plessis, and were dismissed for 220, handing the Aussies the bonus point they needed to qualify for the final.
The Aussies had been down, after the humbling on Sunday, but the world’s best teams have a way of responding to show why they are a class act and, yesterday, they came with all guns blazing and coach Darren Lehmann had a peaceful night.
For Zimbabwe to make the final they now need to beat South Africa convincingly, earn a bonus point and make sure they have a better run rate compared to their neighbours.
That will certainly not be an easy task by any stretch of imagination but the Proteas will look at their last two innings against Zimbabwe, where they were just lucky at the end to scrape past 200, and against the Aussies yesterday, with concern.
Of course, it could open a small window of hope for us.
Marsh was the star of this show with his powerful hitting, which at times made Dale Steyn look ordinary, while he also took two wickets.
Online Reporter