Maiden Duminy ton steers SAfrica to big win

Centurion:

Recalled JP Duminy scored a maiden one-day century as South Africa answered the call of coach Mickey Arthur with a 212-run thrashing of Zimbabwe at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

Arthur demanded greater all-round ruthlessness after his team took much longer than expected to complete a 45-run victory on Sunday in the first encounter.

South Africa were put into bat and ran riot in the afternoon sun to compile 331-5 off 50 overs before bowling Zimbabwe out for 119 after 34.3 overs and completing a 2-0 series win.

The Proteas used the mini-series against their lowly northern neighbours to warm up for a tour by England that begins on Friday and includes Twenty20, ODI and Test fixtures.

"It was a very good performance and you have to be happy after winning by more than 200 runs. Now we look forward to the challenges posed by England, " said South Africa skipper Graeme Smith.

"We are not the finished article and must keep working. We do not see the England series as a chance to settle personal scores, but rather as a new challenge and we must just focus on our game."

Duminy, a 25-year-old left-hand batsman from Cape Town came in at number four and tormented the visiting attack to finish unbeaten on 111 after facing 87 balls in 126 minutes.

His record score included nine fours and two sixes in a virtual chance-less stand as South Africa bettered the 295 runs scored against the one-day minnows in Benoni.

"I just hope I can take this form into the England series. I missed the first Zimbabwe game as a precaution because of shin splints, but I'm fine although there is still a little pain," said Duminy.

Jacques Kallis, another player who missed the first half of the series through injury, struck an 81 that contained eight fours and two sixes and opener Smith bettered a run a ball in compiling 53.

Zimbabwe skipper Prosper Utseya again gambled on a wicket that would aid his spinners and misread the situation once more with Ray Price (3-55) delivering the best return.

Only Tatenda Taibu, century hero of a record sixth-wicket stand on Sunday, offered any resistance to the South African attack, hitting 52 off 71 deliveries before being caught by fellow wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

"It is tough batting against a great team like South Africa but I enjoyed it. I do not deserve the man of the series award, though, as JP Duminy, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla played only once and I played twice," said Taibu.