World Cup 2015 Highlights: Miller-Duminy Tons Help South Africa Go Past Spirited Zimbabwe
Tons from David Miller and JP Duminy see South Africa through in their opening encounter against Zimbabwe
South Africa beats Zimbabwe by 62 runs to register their first points of the 2015 World Cup. Tons from David Miller and JP Duminy helped South Africa post a mammoth 339/4. Zimbabwe launched a spirited reply as Hamilton Masakadza and Chibhabha made South Africa sweat with some outstanding stroke-play. However, Imran Tahir broke the middle-order by striking thrice. Zimbabwe tried hard and showed a lot of heart but in the end, 340 was way too many for them to chase down. (Live Scorecard | Complete World Cup coverage | Fixtures | Teams | Players | History | Schedule)
2: 11 PM IST: That's it! Zimbabwe's spirited reply comes to an end. Chatara plays the ball straight towards Morkel who completes a caught and bowled!
2:03 PM IST: WICKET! AB de VIlliers again! This time the South African captain flings himself and takes a stunning catch on the mid-wicket boundary. Zimbabwe 272/9 after 47.1 overs.
1:57 PM IST: SIX! That came out of the middle of the bat. Pitched short by Morkel and Mire just got stuck into it. Zimbabwe going down with a fight!
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 1:50 PM IST: WICKET! Wickets tumbling for Zimbabwe now. Zimbabwe 254/8 after 44.2 overs
1:42 PM IST: WICKET! Dale Steyn finally gets one! Too fast for Ervine to handle. Zimbabwe 240/7 after 43 overs.
1:34 PM IST: WICKET! AB de Villiers throws down the stumps to send back his counter-part Chigumbura back in the hut. Zimbabwe 237/6 after 41 overs
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1:29 PM IST: SIX! Zimbabwe still fighting. Ervine slams Duminy over covers. Zimbabwe 234/5 after 40 overs.
1:25 PM IST: South Africa has knocked the steam out of Zimbabwe's chase with some quick wickets. Captain Chigumbura at the crease but it will need a herculean effort from here on.
1:20 PM IST: WICKET! And another one goes down. Williams now falls to Duminy. The Zimbabwe chase is falling apart now!
1:14 PM IST: WICKET! Taylor misjudges a slower delivery from Morkel and hands an easy catch to Philander. Zimbabwe chase losing steam. Zimbabwe 215/4 (36.3 ov)
1:03 PM IST: SIX! FOUR! Taylor toying with Behardien. Zimbabwe still in the chase - 207/3 after 35 overs.
12:58 PM IST: Meanwhile in Adelaide, India has ended their innings at 300/7 after a middle-order collapse.
12:53 PM IST: WICKET! Masakadza goes. Tahir has done it again. Tosses up the ball and Masakadza mistimes it to covers! Zimbabwe 191/3 after 33 overs.
12:50 PM IST: 151 runs needed off 18 overs - a very tough ask but Masakadza still keeping the hopes of Zimbabwe alive.
12: 44 PM IST: FOUR! Masakadza pulls Duminy into the square leg boundary. Zimbabwe 189/2 after 32 overs.
12:42 PM IST: FOUR! Taylor sweeps it over short fine and Ab de Villiers isn't impressed. After a few tight deliveries, Zimbabwe needed that boundary. Zimbabwe 178/2 after 30 overs.
12: 39 PM IST: Good over from Philander - just two runs off it. South Africa needs someone to put a lid on the scoring and create some pressure. Remember Zimbabwe are chasing a huge total of 339/4.
12:33 PM IST: In Hamilton though, Mazakadza is making South Africa sweat. AB de Villiers clearly didn't expect this reply from Zimbabwe and looks a touch shocked!
12:30 PM IST: In Adelaide, Virat Kohli has departed after a sensational knock of 107. India 273/3 after 45.2 overs
12:23 PM IST: Dale Steyn is under the pump. Back to back boundaries for Masakadza. Zimbabwe keeping abreast with the run-rate.
12:16 PM IST: WICKET! Tahir breaks the partnership as Chibhabha holes out in the deep. South Africa needed that breakthrough badly. Zimbabwe 137/2 after 24 overs.
12:13 PM IST: SIX! Masakadza dances down the track and lofts Dale Steyn over extra cover! That shot brings up his fifty as well! Zimbabwe 125/1 after 22.4 overs.
12:11 PM IST: Meanwhile in Adelaide, Virat Kohli slams his 22nd ODI hundred.
12:09 PM IST: This is now a serious chase from Zimbabwe. Chibhabha and Masakadza stretching South Africa with some lovely stroke-play. Zimbabwe 116/1 after 21.2 overs
12:07 PM IST: SIX! Masakadza sends Behardien into the orbit. Length ball and Masakadza climbs into that!
11:56 AM IST: FIFTY! Chibhabha gets to his fifty as the partnership continues to grow. A few concerned South African faces on the field now. Zimbabwe after 98/1 in 18.2 overs
11:48 AM IST: Fifty partnership between Chibhabha and Masakadza. Zimbabwe taking on the South Africans.
11:44 AM IST: FOUR! FOUR! Back to back boundaries - Masakadza joins in the party now. Morkel dropping them short and is being carted around the ground. Zimbabwe 81/1 after 15 overs
11:38 AM IST: Chibhabha is looking confident at the crease and is trying to take on the bowling. If Zimbabwe have to get anywhere close to South Africa's score, they need to accelerate now. Zimbabwe 73/1 after 13 overs.
11:34 AM IST: Bit of drizzle in the air as dark clouds gather over Hamilton. Zimbabwe 63/1 after 11.1 overs
11:28 AM IST: FOUR! Chibhabha hoicks Steyn over mid on. Gutsy shot against the best fast bowler in the world!
11:25 AM IST: Zimbabwe bring up their 50 in the 9th over. Meanwhile in Adelaide, Shikhar Dhawan departs for 73.
11:22 AM IST: FOUR more! Steyn strays on to the pads and Chibhabha gets a tickle to run it past long leg.
11:19 AM IST: FOUR! Steyn gives some room outside the off-stump and Chibhabha steers that past point for a boundary.
11:11 AM IST: WICKET! Philander makes a mess of Raza's stumps - the ball just did a little bit in the air and was closer to the off-stump line. Raza chops it onto his stumps! Zimbabwe 32/1 after 6.2 overs.
11:07 AM IST: Zimbabwe have got off to a decent start but are chasing a massive target. The asking rate keeps growing on the batsman. Zimbabwe 32/0 after 6 overs.
11:02 AM IST: Meanwhile in Adelaide, India have made a strong start against Pakistan. India 134/1 after 26 overs with Kohli and Dhawan at the crease.
10:59 AM IST: FOUR! Pitched up by Morkel and smashed through the covers by Chibhabaha. What a good shot that is!
10:52 AM IST: 12 runs off the 2nd over from Morkel. Three boundaries. Good start for the openers. Zimbabwe 19/0 after 2.2 overs.
10:50 AM IST: FOUR! Pitched up and lovely straight drive from Chibhabha off Morne Morkel. Zimbabwe 10/0 after 1.2 overs
10:49 AM IST: FOUR! Sikandar Raza pulls a short one through mid-wicket!
10:45 AM IST: Zimbabwe begin chase. Need 340 runs to win their first game in this World Cup - a tall order in any game but against a world-class South African bowling unit, it is even tougher!
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From being down at 83/4, South Africa made a massive recovery to reach 339/4 at the end of their innings. An unbeaten stand of 256 runs between David Miller and JP Duminy saw the Proteas deflate neighbours Zimbabwe and take control of their opening game. Miller stayed not out 138 off just 92 deliveries while JP Duminy scored an unbeaten 115 off 100 balls. The duo added 256 runs in just 29.4 overs at a run rate of 8.62 per over. The Zimbabwean started well but lost their way in front of some sublime batting from Miller and Duminy.
Can Zimbabwe chase the total? Or is it already out of their reach?
10:05 AM IST: SIX! FOUR! Duminy ends the innings in some style! South Africa reach 339/4 after Miller and Duminy slams tons in a record partnership for the Proteas.
10:00 AM IST: HUNDRED! Duminy reaches the three-figure mark as South Africa continue their onslaught!
9:55 AM IST: 6,4,4,6,4,6 - That's how the 48th over went! This partnership is now highest for South Africa in terms of runs. They beat the previous record of 186 runs set by Kirsten and Hudson.
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9:51 AM IST: SIX! FOUR! FOUR! SIX! David Miller is taking apart Zimbabwe! Mire has no clue where to bowl! SA 298/4 after 47.4 overs!
9:46 AM IST: FOUR! Duminy goes back and across and caresses that to the point boundary. SA 272/4 after 46.3 overs
9:45 AM IST: HUNDRED! David Miller scores his second ODI ton and what an innings under pressure! He also becomes the second centurion of the 2015 World Cup after Aaron Finch.
9:42 AM IST: SIX! SIX! Miller now going berserk.
9:40 AM IST: SIX! Duminy now goes over cow-corner! The flood gates have opened now, Zimbabwe are bleeding runs.
9:38 AM IST: FOUR! Short and down the leg-side - Duminy hammers that to the long leg boundary and brings up the 150-run partnership. SA 235/4 after 44.1 overs
9:34 AM IST: Last six overs to come, two set batsman at the crease and Miller in murderous mood. How much will South Africa score?
9:31 AM IST: South Africa has scored 50 runs in the last 6 overs. Zimbabwe can't find a way to put a lid on the scoring.
9:21AM IST: FOUR! David Miller now stepping on the gas! Zimbabwe needs to be careful because this man can take the game away from you in a jiffy!
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 9:16 AM IST: FIFTY! Now Duminy goes past his fifty. Another brilliant innings under pressure as South Africa look to press on now!
9:14 AM IST: SIX! Miller goes over the cow-corner and deposits that one over the ropes. SA 192/4 after 39.5
9:12 AM IST: 100 run-partnership between Miller and Duminy! And didn't the Proteas need that!
9:08 AM IST: FOUR! Miller swivels around and pulls Chatara to the long leg boundary. Short ball, deserved a boundary. SA 178/4 after 38.1 overs
9:05 AM IST: FIFTY! David Miller pushes the ball to long off and brings up his fifty. Big innings from the left-hander as South Africa was in a spot of bother when he walked in
9:02 AM IST: SIX! Miller slams Panyangara for a massive hit over backward square.ÂÂ
9:00 AM IST: Miller and Duminy laying the platform for an onslaught here. SA 156/4 in 36.2 overs.
8:17 AM IST: The 100 comes up for South Africa in the 25th over - 100/4 off 24.1 overs. Can Miller and Duminy lead a Proteas revival here. With the kind of bowling attack they have, even 250 should be a safe total on pitch that has afforded enough bounce and pace. But do they want to take a chance against what has looked like a spirited Zimbabwean unit?
8:14 AM IST: The onus is now on David Miller and JP Duminy to get South Africa out of trouble. They have not been in such a situation in a long, long time.
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8:03 AM IST: WICKET! This is disaster for South Africa - an utter nightmare. AB de Villiers has perished to Kamungozi and the Proteas have lost four inside 21 overs. They are 'choking' at the big stage again.
7:55 AM IST: SIX! Chigumbura errs in line and Miller has clobbered that low full toss into the stands. This is power-packed cricket. This is a top-shot. South Africa are 80/3 off 18.1 overs.
7:48 AM IST: WICKET! What a moment in the match this. Du Plessis had just clobbered Chigumbura for SIX and then threw his wicket away as South Africa slipped to 67/3 off 17 overs. This is looking very poor for the Proteas. David Millers walks out to join AB de Villiers in the middle.
7:43 AM IST: de Villiers and du Plessis have so far added 38 runs in 7.5 overs. They are naturally attacking cricketers and would look to build the pressure on Zimbabwe with some crisp stroke-making. It was only a few weeks ago that de Villiers hammered the fastest ODI hundred and went on to collect 144 off 49 - scary numbers.
7:37 AM IST: de Villiers and du Plessis have steadied South Africa after the early blows. De Villiers especially has come out all guns blazing and has looked to take the Zimbabwe attack on. The pitch has afforded some bounce and the minnows have used the conditions well. South Africa are 55/2 in 15 overs.
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7:22 AM IST: Bowling change. Mire comes on to the attack after Chatara and Panyangara inflict early damages.
7:15 AM IST: SIX! Immediate sign of aggression from AB de Villiers. Terrific shot from the South African captain to release the pressure and show who is the boss. This is great cricket from one of the greatest cricketers of this era. South Africa are 28/2 off 10 overs.
7:09 AM IST: WICKET! Major blow for the Proteas. Amla has played on to Panyangara for 11 and South Africa are tottering at 21/2 in 8.1 overs. However, the breakthrough has got AB de Villiers and du Plessis together - two of the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket.
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7:03 AM IST: Zimbabwe's pacers have been extremely impressive today. They have tied the South Africans down, bowling brilliantly with the new ball. After 7 overs, South Africa are 20/1 - Amla and Faf du Plessis will have to see out a tricky phase here.
6:48 AM IST: WICKET! Quinton de Kock was looking to attack way too much and he has paid the price against Chatara. South Africa have been jolted and they are 10/1 off 4 overs. de Kock departs for 7.
6:43 AM IST: South Africa are 8/0 off 3 overs as Chatara comes on for his second over - de Kock on strike. The Zimbabweans have done well so far with the new ball. They have bowled a tight line and bowled to their field - a lesson for India's bowlers later in the day perhaps?
6:40 AM IST: FOUR! de Kock cracks Panyangara to the fence after a fine second over from Chatara to Amla. de Kock is a very good batsman remember - he had slammed three successive hundreds against India in December 2013 and since been an integral part of the Proteas line-up.
6:36 AM IST: Good start from Panyangara, who delivers a maiden to de Kock. The South Africans would want to be watchful early on against two good new-ball bowlers. Chatara at the other end will also challenge Hashim Amla for the first few minutes.
6:26 AM IST: The two teams have now lined up for their national anthems. Zimbabwe have endured plenty of problems since the last World Cup even as other teams in the world have grown stronger. Not long back, Zimbabwe's players had threatened to boycott international matches after non-payment of salaries. South Africa on the other hand, have dominated world cricket with their fiery brand of players, led by the inimitable AB de Villiers.
6:19 AM IST: Despite South Africa's obvious superior record, their World Cup track record is even. The two have met twice in the showpiece event and have a 1-1 tally. South Africa won the first encounter in Canberra on 1992 by seven wickets while Zimbabwe stunned the eventual semifinalists by 48 runs in Chelmsford seven years later. It was all thanks to Neil Johnson's brilliant all-round performance - he first scored 76 to help Zimbabwe post a competitive 233/6 before returning figures of 3/27 to bowl South Africa out for 185
6:10 AM IST: As expected, no major surprises in the South African line-up. Zimbabwe too have fielded their best possible side but the question is - will it be enough to derail the Proteas?
South Africa: Amla, de Kock (WK), du Plessis, de Villiers (captain), Miller, Duminy, Behardien, Philander, Steyn, Tahir, Morkel
Zimbabwe: Chibhabha, Raza, Masakadza, Taylor (WK), Williams, Ervine, Chigumbura (captain), Mire, Panyangara, Chatara, Kamungozi
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6:07 AM IST: Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field vs South Africa. Both captains said they were fielding their strongest XIs for the match and there were no injury concerns. Proteas skipper AB de Villiers said he would have liked to bowl as well but he wasn't sure till the last minute. Maybe it was a good toss to lose.
6:01 AM IST: The two African sides are meeting in New Zealand for the first time. Of seven matches played at neutral venues, South Africa have won five, lost one while another one failed to produce a result.
5:49 AM IST: Welcome to the third match of the World Cup! World Cup favourites South Africa take on Zimbabwe, who many feel have no chance against their much stronger African neighbours. The Proteas have won 34 of the 37 ODIs played between the two sides but Zimbabwe have won two - one in the World Cup. So don't rule the minnows out yet.
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World Cup favourites South Africa begin their World Cup campaign against their neighbours Zimbabwe as Hamilton gears up for all African battle. Though, there's a huge gulf in class between the two sides, South Africa would be ill-advised to take Zimbabwe lightly. (Read more)