Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut punished an injury-hit South African bowling attack as Zimbabwe staged a recovery on the first day of the second Test at Centurion Park Friday. After being virtually down and out at 115 for seven, Zimbabwe reached a respectable total of 269 and kept South Africa in the field for most of the day. South Africa were 13 for no wicket at the close after facing three overs.
Streak made 85 and Blignaut hit a quick-fire 52. The pair, who only returned to the Zimbabwe side in time for last week's first Test after almost out a year out of international cricket following a dispute which split the country's cricket, put on 76 for the eighth wicket.
Streak and Graeme Cremer added another 73 for the ninth wicket, with Cremer defending grimly in an innings of 12.
The Zimbabweans were aided by the absence of three South African bowlers through injury while Streak and Blignaut launched their fightback. They were Zimbabwe's last reliable batsmen after three wickets fell for no runs in 15 balls early in the afternoon. But while Zimbabwe were running out of batsmen, South Africa were running out of bowlers. Soon after dismissing Elton Chigumbura, all-rounder Jacques Kallis left the field with a hip injury, joining Charl Langeveldt and Andre Nel in the dressing room.
Langeveldt did not take the field after lunch because of a back injury, while Nel spent most of the afternoon off the field with a hamstring strain. At one stage fitness trainer Adrian le Roux was a third substitute fielder while yet another reinforcement was sought from host province Northerns' amateur ranks.
Nel and Kallis returned after tea and had served the necessary time on the field to share the second new ball late in the day, wrapping up the Zimbabwe innings. Kallis finished with four for 33, Nel took two for 17 and Monde Zondeki, who at one stage was the only pace bowler on the field, claimed three for 66.
South Africa were without regular opening bowlers Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini. Pollock was ruled out by an inflamed left ankle, while Ntini was rested ahead of South Africa's tour of the West Indies which starts later this month. Ntini had played in 36 consecutive Tests since February 2002. Pollock and Ntini were replaced by Zondeki, whose only previous Test was against England at Leeds in 2003, and Nel, who missed the first Test because of a hamstring strain.
Smith finally fell when he was bowled off an inside edge by Kallis in the second over with the second new ball. He batted for 166 minutes, faced 154 balls and hit 11 fours.
ZIMBABWE (1st innings)
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S Matsikenyeri c Smith b Langeveldt 12
B Rogers c Boucher b Nel 7
D Ebrahim b Kallis 37
H Masakadza c Smith b Zondeki 26
B Taylor b Kallis 4
T Taibu c Gibbs b Zondeki 14
E Chigumbura c sub (Phangiso) b Kallis 0
H Streak b Kallis 85
A Blignaut c Smith b Zondeki 52
G Cremer c Boucher b Nel 12
C Mpofu not out 1
EXTRAS: (B-4, LB-8, NB-3, W-) 19
TOTAL: (all out 85 overs) 269
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FALL OF WICKETS: 1-15, 2-22, 3-71, 4-80, 5-115, 6-115, 7-115, 8-191, 9-264
BOWLING: Nel 12-7-17-2 (2w), Zondeki 21-7-66-3 (2w), Langeveldt 5-1-19-1 (1nb), Kallis 13-4-33-4 (2nb), Smith 7-2-39-0, Boje 18-1-62-0, De Villiers 7-0-16-0, Rudolph 2-0-5-0
SOUTH AFRICA (1st innings)
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A de Villiers not out 9
G Smith not out 3
Extras: (w1) 1
Total: (0 wkts, 3 overs) 13
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