S Africa move ahead in Zimbabwe Test
13 Aug 2014 4:58 AM IST
South Africa forged ahead in the one-off Test in Zimbabwe after a century stand by Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock helped the top-ranked team to a 22-run lead at lunch on the third day on Monday.
Du Plessis fell for 98 but De Kock was 75 not out as South Africa reached 278-5 in reply to Zimbabwe’s first-innings total of 256 at Harare Sports Club. Their partnership for the fifth wicket was worth 119.
Du Plessis hit 11 fours and was on the brink of a fourth test century when he fell just before lunch to give offspinner John Nyumbu one of his three wickets on his debut. De Kock was approaching his first test hundred, hitting four fours and a six in a measured innings on a slow, dry pitch at Harare that has favored the spinners. The two batsmen nearly took South Africa through the first session unscathed but Du Plessis advanced down the pitch three overs before the lunch break and clipped a catch to backward square leg to fall two short of a hundred.
Nyumbu, one of two Zimbabweans making their test debuts in the first five-day match between the neighbors in a year, had 3-105 to lead the home bowlers. Donald Tiripano, Zimbabwe’s other debutant, and Tendai Chatara had one wicket each.
Du Plessis batted for nearly six hours over two days and faced 264 balls as South Africa ground its way ahead in a game pitting the No. 1 test team against the second-lowest ranked outfit.
Du Plessis fell for 98 but De Kock was 75 not out as South Africa reached 278-5 in reply to Zimbabwe’s first-innings total of 256 at Harare Sports Club. Their partnership for the fifth wicket was worth 119.
Du Plessis hit 11 fours and was on the brink of a fourth test century when he fell just before lunch to give offspinner John Nyumbu one of his three wickets on his debut. De Kock was approaching his first test hundred, hitting four fours and a six in a measured innings on a slow, dry pitch at Harare that has favored the spinners. The two batsmen nearly took South Africa through the first session unscathed but Du Plessis advanced down the pitch three overs before the lunch break and clipped a catch to backward square leg to fall two short of a hundred.
Nyumbu, one of two Zimbabweans making their test debuts in the first five-day match between the neighbors in a year, had 3-105 to lead the home bowlers. Donald Tiripano, Zimbabwe’s other debutant, and Tendai Chatara had one wicket each.
Du Plessis batted for nearly six hours over two days and faced 264 balls as South Africa ground its way ahead in a game pitting the No. 1 test team against the second-lowest ranked outfit.
Next Story
