Zimbabwe outplayed by SA Composite XI

Zimbabwe outplayed by SA Composite XI

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ZIMBABWE'S return to Test cricket still seems light years away as they were thoroughly outplayed by an inexperienced SA Composite XI on the first day of the second SuperSport challenge match at Paarl.

By the close the home team had an overall lead of 68 after dismissing Zimbabwe for a paltry 89.

Composite XI captain Benji Hector, leading the team on his home ground, won the toss and sent the visitors in to bat on a lively pitch.

Gauteng paceman Shane Burger struck with his second delivery to dismiss Vusi Sibanda, and sent Chamu Chibhabha packing in his next over.

By lunch Zimbabwe had struggled to 49 for six, and there was no respite after the break as wickets continued to tumble.

Although Zimbabwe coach Robin Brown did feel the pitch had contributed something to the batting collapse, he felt his team's batting performance was well below par.

Paul Adams did not even get his hands on the ball as the seamers did all the work. Jeandre Coetzee of Griqualand West was the most successful bowler with figures of 15-9-19-4, while Burger and Griqualand West all-rounder Alan Kruger weighed in with three apiece.

Finding themselves batting an hour before tea, Chigumbura claimed two early wickets after Rushdi Jappie had been run out by Chibhabha.

However, Madsen found a solid partner in Kruger as they took the South Africans into the lead with a 153-ball 80, before Zimbabwean skipper Prosper Utseya bowled Kruger for a well played 37.

Scoreboard
Scoreboard at close of play in the SuperSport challenge match between an SA composite team and Zimbabwe.

Toss: SA Composite XI

Zimbabwe First-innings

H Masakadza c Reddy b Coetzee 4

V Sibanda c Adams b Burger 0

C Chibhabha c Dyili b Burger 1

T Taibu c Burger b Kruger 20

B Taylor lbw b Coetzee 2

S Matsikenyeri c Madsen b Coetzee 7

K Dabengwa c Madsen b Kruger 5

E Chigumbura c Liebisch b Kruger 35

P Utseya lbw b Coetzee 0

R Price c Hector b Burger 2

C Mpofu not out 0

Extras (11lb 1w 1nb) 13

Total (all out, 43.3 overs) 89

Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/1, 3/9, 4/27, 5/35, 6/48, 7/51, 8/51, 9/83, 10/89.

Bowling: Coetzee 15-9-19-4, Burger 8-4-13-3, Reddy 11-5-26-0 (1nb), Kruger

7.3-3-15-3 (1w), Liebisch 2-1-5-0.

SA Composite First-innings

B Snijman b Chigumbura 9

R Jappie run out (Chibhabha) 2

B Hector c Dabengwa b Chigumbura 5

W Madsen not out 56

S Liebisch c Utseya b Mpofu 19

S Burger b Masakadza 19

A Kruger b Utseya 37

A Dyili c Dabengwa b Utseya 2

Extras (6lb 2w) 8

Total (for 7 wickets, 49.2 overs) 157

Fall of wickets: 1/11, 2/14, 3/19, 4/49, 5/73, 6/153, 7/157.

Bowling: Mpofu 11-2-33-1 (1w), Chigumbura 10-1-48-2 (1w), Chibhabha

7-2-14-0, Masakadza 3-1-6-1, Price 13-3-26-0. Utseya 5.2-1-24-2.

- Sapa
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