ZIMBABWE produced one of their finest batting displays in a Test match against South Africa, reaching only their third innings of over 200 in the first innings in seven attempts to complete a decent start on the opening day of the lone Test at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
World number one ranked South Africa were expected to rip through the hosts’ batting line-up after Brendan Taylor daringly elected to bat first after winning the toss.
However against all expectations, the ninth-ranked Zimbabwe led by Taylor (93) and Hamilton Masakadza (45) avoided the anticipated massacre, reaching stumps on 248 for nine in 89 overs.
Debutant seamer Donald Tiripano will resume play unbeaten on nine while the other Zimbabwe debutant John Nyumbu is yet to get off the mark.
Taylor, who was unlucky to miss out on a century, was the bedrock of Zimbabwe’s solid first innings as he smashed eight boundaries on his way to his seventh career half century.
In fact it could have been a better day in the office for Zimbabwe had they not come at the receiving end of some questionable umpiring from Aleem Dar from New Zealand.
Standing in his first Test, Dar, was unforgiving against the hosts as he made some poor decisions, the most glaring being the dismissal of Tendai Chatara (22) when he adjudged that he had been caught behind when he had clearly missed the ball.
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Wicketkeeper batsman Richmond Mutumbami (21) was also given out by Dar even though Dale Steyn’s delivery looked to be going down the leg side while Sean Williams (24) was also unlucky.
Zimbabwe went into the Test match against South Africa wary of the visitors’ star studded pace attack but it was an unknown debutant spinner Dane Piedt, who did the most damage.
Piedt, the 24 year old from Cape Town took four wickets for 90 runs, including the prized wickets of Taylor and Masakadza while Steyn also claimed four wickets for 41 runs.
Zimbabwe looked to be on the back foot almost immediately after losing Vusi Sibanda for a duck as early as the 3rd over after the under pressure opening batsman was caught at first slip by Alvaro Petersen off the bowling of Dale Steyn.
Hamilton Masakadza, who celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday and Mark Vermulen, who was playing in his first Test in a decade safely negotiated past the Proteas star studded pace attack with a 33-run partnership inside the first hour.
The brief period of resistance was however ended just seven deliveries after the drinks break and the breakthrough for South Africa came from the unlikeliest of sources. Dane Piedt, the debutant, spinner trapped Vermulen (14) in front with his first delivery in Test cricket, becoming the 19th ever bowler to achieve the feat and only the second South African.
Zimbabwe reached the lunch interval on 64 for two with Masakadza well set for a big score and still unbeaten on 28 while Brendan Taylor looked confident on 19 not out.
After lasting 95 deliveries for his 45 Masakadza was denied what would have been a deserved half century when he was brilliantly bowled by Piedt to end a promising 57-run third wicket partnership.
Piedt’s dream debut continued when he claimed his third wicket two deliveries later after removing Chakabva for a duck to leave Zimbabwe in trouble after what had looked like a decent start on 90 for four.
Williams looked in good form when he was given out caught behind for 24 off just 34 deliveries in the 41st over.
