Match 3 Pool B .Match Played at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Man of The Match: DA Miller ( South Africa)
South Africa 339/4 (DA Miller 138 *, JP Duminy 115*) beat Zimbabwe 277 All Out (H Masakadza 80*, CJ Chibhabha64, BRM Taylor 40 , Imran Tahir 3/30, VD Philander 2/30, M Morkel 2/49)
Less fancied Zimbabwe went down fighting against top favorite South Africa in the first match of pool B at Seddon Park Hamilton by 62 runs. By not stretch of imagination any one could foresee that Zimbabwe badly bruised and battered by David Miller and JP Duminy with a lively unbroken 256 runs 5 th wicket partnership could fight till the last. It was really a brave response by Zimbabwe when they went on making 277 all out.
Red Hot South Africa had lot of early worries when after put in to bat they lost Q de Kock, H Amla, F du Plessis and AB de Villiers for only 83 on board by the 20th over.
Unfortunately Zimbabwe could not keep the momentum as Miller and Duminy after weathering the onslaught started counter attacking. Both played many attractive strokes in their delightful 5th wicket unbroken partnership. Miller played savaged the bowling with 9 huge sixes and 7 fours in his 92 ball unbeaten 138 runs innings. Duminy was a little sober though striking at an impressive rate. 
Duminy remained all out scoring 115 in 100 deliveries .His innings featured with 3 sixes and 9 fours . Their aggressive partnership of 256 virtually took the match out of Zimbabwe grasp. South Africa finished at 349/4 meaning that Zimbabwe for an upset required scoring 350 at 7 runs per over right from the outset.
Usually after such an all-out assault the receiving team loses steam. But that was not the case with new look Zimbabwe under the mentoring of Dave Whatmore. They started with a never say attitude from the start and kept the momentum going against top bowling side of the world. CJ Chibhabha and H Masakadza in the run a ball 105 second wicket partnership kept Zimbabwe on the hunt.
They were playing Morkel, Philander and Steyn very bravely keeping Zimbabwe on the hunt. Masakdaza scored 80 in 74 deliveries and Chibhabha made 64 in 82. But once they got out only Taylor (40) could show some resistance. South Africa was not really in danger of losing the match but Zimbabwe efforts were really praiseworthy. Other teams of the group have to take due note of Zimbabwe’s lively performance. South African bowlers looked a bit rusty .If they have to go all the way they have to smarten their bowling a lot. Zimbabwe was defeated but definitely not disgraced.
BDST: 1545 HRS, FEB 15, 2015
