Bowlers will once again concern Smith

Graeme Smith's bowling attack will once again be concerning him despite South Africa's 45-run victory over Zimbabwe in the first MTN one-day international at Sahara Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Sunday.

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Defending 295 for five, South Africa did well enough with the new ball, reducing Zimbabwe to 94 for five by the time a thunderstorm arrived after 29 overs. But it was an uphill struggle for the bowlers thereafter as Tatenda Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri shared a top-class stand of 188 off 193 balls - a record for Zimbabwe against their neighbours for any wicket and the best sixth-wicket stand by any country against South Africa.

The pugnacious duo took Zimbabwe to 250 for six in their 50 overs, with Taibu completing a scintillating 110-ball century in the final over. It was just his third hundred in an international career stretching back eight years, but his second against South Africa.

Matsikenyeri was similarly free-scoring as he made a dazzling 86 off 87 balls, the pair lambasting whoever Smith called on as 146 runs were added in 21 overs after the 45-minute rain delay.

Smith will be hoping for more focus from his bowlers in Tuesday's second match at SuperSport Park.

It had all gone according to plan earlier in the innings as fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Ryan McLaren claimed two wickets apiece to reduce Zimbabwe to 48 for five, a quick finish looking likely.

The Zimbabwe top-order showed none of the pluck of the pint-sized duo of Taibu and Matsikenyeri. Opener Chamunorwa Chibhabha came out of hiding in the eighth over to sock a couple of boundaries off Lonwabo Tsotsobe, but McLaren made a dramatic debut by claiming his wicket with his third delivery.

McLaren was fortunate to get it, however, as Chibhabha (21) was struck high on the leg and TV replays showed the ball going over the stumps.

McLaren claimed a second wicket eight balls later with wicketkeeper Mark Boucher taking a superb catch, diving low to his right with one hand to dismiss Brendan Taylor for two. Boucher had earlier dropped Mark Vermuelen on four, although it was not a telling mistake as the same bowler, Tsotsobe, had him caught at wide mid-off for eight in his next over.

McLaren's double-strike reduced Zimbabwe to 40 for three and two more wickets would come in the 17th over as Steyn returned for a second spell. Boucher claimed another good catch, going away to his right, to dismiss Hamilton Masakadza for 11 and Elton Chigumbura had an inside-edge fly to the boundary before chopping the next ball on to his stumps.

Taibu and Matsikenyeri had already added 46 in 12 overs when the players were forced to go off the field and they chased runs with impressive gusto after the break.

McLaren eventually bowled Matsikenyeri in the 48th over to finish with three for 51 in ten overs.

Steyn had gone for just 18 runs in his first five overs but finished with two for 51 and off-spinner Johan Botha had conceded 20 off eight overs when he was thrashed for 16 runs by Matsikenyeri in the 42nd over.

Charl Langeveldt bowled tidily as he conceded 33 runs in eight overs and he should have had Masakadza lbw with his fourth delivery.

Hashim Amla had earlier set the tone for a controlled South African batting performance as the opener led them to 295 for five.

It was a solid enough total by the home side, but in perfect batting conditions they never quite seemed to shake off the yoke applied by tight Zimbabwe spin-bowling and excellent fielding.

Amla top-scored with 80 off 97 balls and was clearly setting out to bat through the innings, while Smith (35), AB de Villiers (51) and Alviro Petersen (39) were all set for bigger things when they got themselves out.

Amla was dismissed in the 36th over when he pulled a sudden long-hop from tidy leg-spinner Graeme Cremer straight to cow corner.

It ended a top-class innings by the Natalian, who had shared an opening stand of 67 off 82 balls with Smith.

The South African captain was just beginning to seize the initiative, having struck six fours and a six in his 39-ball innings, when he top-edged a sweep off left-arm spinner Ray Price to deep midwicket, the ball after he had launched the bowler over the covers for four.

De Villiers came in and immediately batted with positive intent, he and Amla showing a good understanding between the wickets, as he whacked five fours and a six in a 48-ball half-century. The accurate Price dismissed him as well though, De Villiers coming down the pitch for a lofted drive, but playing inside the ball as it turned away from him, the half-bat shot going to long-off, where Vermuelen lined up the first of his three catches.

Cremer (10-0-47-1) gained reward for a quality spell of leg-spin when Amla fell to a rare long-hop, and a small middle-order wobble occured when Boucher fell for 18 three overs later, looking to clear long-off but being caught by Vermuelen off Price.

Boucher's innings took 34 balls and it was not the emphatic display by a number four either the batsman/wicketkeeper or South Africa were seeking.

South Africa had slipped to 202 for four in the 39th over, but Petersen and Albie Morkel then added 86 off 71 balls, although the run-rate only reached any great heights towards the end of the partnership.

Petersen scored his runs off 36 balls, and he stroked four boundaries, before he slogged Chibhabha to Cremer at long-off.

By then Morkel was in the zone and the left-hander made up for a careful start by plundering three fours and three sixes in racing to 50 not out off 39 balls, tearing into the bowling in the last five overs as 53 runs were added.

Zimbabwe will nevertheless be satisfied with their performance in the field, although the pace bowlers were scored off quickly on a pitch that bears no hidden threat for the batsmen.

Veteran Price was the pick with three for 44 in ten overs, captain Utseya was tidy and Cremer's performance was most encouraging.

Teams:

Zimbabwe - Prosper Utseya (capt), Mark Vermuelen, Brendan Taylor, Elton Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Graeme Cremer, Raymond Price, Christopher Mpofu.