South Africa Cricket

South Africa completed a 3-0 whitewash in the one-day international series in Zimbabwe after a seven-wicket win in Bulawayo.

The hosts, who were put into bat after the Proteas won the toss and elected to field, were dismissed for 169 in 39.5 overs.

South Africa polished off the total in just 27.2 overs, as Quinton de Kock made 84.

Only 90 from Elton Chigumbura prevented Zimbabwe from posting an embarrassingly low total.

They lost Hamilton Masakadza and Richmond Mutumbami in the opening seven balls although Sikandar Raza (30) helped them reach 50-2 at the end of the powerplay.

Raza went in the 11th over, and then Sean Williams (17) departed, the first of six wickets to fall for 30 runs in 12.2 overs.

Chigumbura scored 42 in a 46-run final wicket partnership, but he became Marchant de Lange's third victim after hitting 10 boundaries and two sixes.

SA had a miserable start to their reply, as debutant Rilee Rossouw was run out from the first ball he faced attempting to pinch a quick single.

However, De Kock and Faf du Plessis put on 74 in under 12 overs before the latter was bowled by Williams after hitting eight boundaries in a 33-ball 40.

De Kock looked on course for a century but perished 22 runs short of the target, as he was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary after smashing seven boundaries and two sixes in his 75-ball innings.

JP Duminy (28) and David Miller (13) saw the visitors home, with Duminy hitting John Nyumbu for six to seal the win.

South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 61 runs in the second one-day international in Bulawayo.

The hosts, who won the toss and chose to field, restricted their opponents to 257 with South Africa bowled out two balls before the end of their 50 overs.

However the Zimmies could only make 196 in their reply.

Quinton de Kock got SA off to a good start with a run-a-ball 38, but he departed either side of key man Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers with the captain running himself out.

Faf du Plessis (55), JP Duminy (36) and DA Miller (45) all made contributions in the middle order, and there were lower-order cameos from Wayne Parnell (24) and Kyle Abbott (23).

However, none made a big score to give Zimbabwe hope of just a third win in 34 one-day internationals against their neighbours.

That hope soon evaporated as they were reduced to 59-5 with Parnell picking up two wickets.

Sean Williams followed up his two wickets with 55, but he became Ryan McLaren's third victim in the 37th over, and the innings petered out with Parnell finishing with 3-28.

De Villiers said he was happy with the victory in the post-match presentation as reported by ESPN Cricinfo:

Bit of an awkward game with some of the dismissals, specifically myself. Very happy with our recovery. We were very hungry in the field and that always helps.

South Africa won the opening match of the series by 93 runs on Sunday. The series concludes at the same venue on Thursday.

It is not often that Dale Steyn’s achievements slip under the radar. In the recent Test against Zimbabwe, he picked up eight scalps, including 5-for-46 in the first innings. While he certainly didn’t go unnoticed, his feat was somewhat understated as debut spinner Dane Piedt hogged the headlines.

There’s nothing wrong with sharing the headlines, but Steyn’s performances in Tests only seem to keep getting better. Even as he heads into his twilight years, Steyn is still bowling smarter and faster than he ever has before. He has spent the last month-and-a-half notching up a few milestones, just in case anyone forgot just how good he is:

But how long can he still keep going?

Workload management is something the South Africans carefully employ when it comes to managing their fast bowlers. The pace ace recently turned 31, but though the average age of retirement for fast bowlers is around 33, that doesn’t mean it has to be the case for Steyn.

A piece published in Business Day Sport Monthly (h/t SA Cricket) theorised that Steyn has just 300 overs left in him. It looked at the workloads of other fast bowling greats and when they retired and compared to Steyn. Written three months before Steyn turned 31 (prior to the Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe Tests), it said:

Steyn has bowled a total of 3,334 overs in international cricket (Tests, ODIs and T20s). ...

Brett Lee’s total of 3,344 seems almost identical to Steyn’s until one recognises two telling facts: firstly, that Lee bowled 500 fewer Test overs than Steyn (his total was bulked up by lots of ODIs) and secondly, that he retired almost immediately after reaching this total. In short, when he was Steyn’s current age he was more or less broken. ...

Courtney Walsh, hailed as one of the most dogged workhorses of seam bowling, had sent down a total of 2,938 international overs at the same age. Curtly Ambrose had managed 2,897, with only 1,968 of those overs bowled in Tests – almost 1,000 fewer than Steyn. Michael Holding had bowled 2,429; Shoaib Akhtar, 2,258; Donald, 2,053; Lillee, 2,012; and Hadlee a grand total of 1,928.

In short, just before his 31st birthday, Steyn has already got through the kind of workload that took former greats until their 34th or 35th years.

While that assessment is fair to an extent, it is also fair to consider Steyn’s action and his injury record. While fast bowling is certainly not natural in any way, Steyn does have a very natural action, which has seen him blessed with a relatively injury-free career.

Steyn has also said he is not that bothered about records and doesn’t really think about the stats. Still, they do provide a benchmark of sorts to place players in the “greatest of all time” list. Steyn already has a few records to his name, but that doesn’t mean he is done yet.

Despite South Africa’s Test schedule not being the greatest, there is a real opportunity for Steyn to make an impact in the next two years. Over the coming summer, they will play West Indies in three Tests at home, an ideal opportunity for Steyn to get stuck into some Test records, particularly the 400-wicket mark. Currently 17 wickets short of that magic mark, he could easily become the fastest quick bowler to the reach the landmark.

Glenn McGrath currently holds the record and got there in 85 Tests, but Steyn is on 75 Tests, and the West Indies are relatively weak opposition. Considering that he does average five wickets in a Test, it would not be too unlikely for him to break the record this summer.

Unless something drastically changes in Steyn's action or something freakish happens, he should be able to play at a reasonable standard until at least the end of the 2015-16 tour at home against England. Since he will be carefully managed when it comes to limited-overs cricket, Tests will be the focal point for the speedster; it is there where could break even more records.

He is already level with Wasim Akram as the fast bowler with the most 10-wicket hauls in Tests and could overtake Sir Richard Hadlee if he gets five more. He has quite a fair way to go to overtake Hadlee as the player with the most five-wicket hauls in an innings, but MGrath's record is there for the taking. He needs just six more five-fors to surpass McGrath's five-wicket haul record; considering South Africa's upcoming opposition, it is entirely possible.

As for becoming the fast bowler with the most wickets in the history of the game, this is where things get interesting: Steyn needs a further 180 wickets to earn that honour. 

Since the start of January 2012, he has taken 123 wickets in 25 matches, including seven five-fors. Since, for the foreseeable future anyway, South Africa only have 12 Tests to come in the next year-and-a-half, McGrath's record might be somewhat out of reach if age starts playing a part in Steyn's career. 

It is almost impossible to predict how long Steyn can still carry on since many factors influence these sorts of things. While he has recently started to pick up a few injury niggles, he has never sustained anything career-threatening and has never been injured for long. That is largely thanks to his natural athletic ability but will now be influenced by the management’s ability to take care of their players.

With a bulk of one-day internationals and a World Cup next year, Steyn will be looked after and wrapped in cotton wool to ensure that he can continue his career for as long as his body and his form allow him to. If he keeps going at anywhere close to the performance he recently put up against Sri Lanka, a couple more records will surely fall in his lap.

All stats from ESPN Cricinfo unless otherwise stated. All quotes obtained firsthand. 

South Africa won a one-off Test against Zimbabwe by nine wickets on the fourth day in Harare.

The hosts were bowled out for 181 in their second innings, with debutant Dane Piedt taking four of 48 and seamers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel grabbing three wickets apiece.

Chasing just 41 for victory, the Proteas polished off their runs in 10.4 overs.

Zimbabwe resumed on 28-1 and made slow but steady progress as they scored 52 runs in the morning session, losing only nightwatchman Donald Tiripano (5) to debutant spinner Piedt in the process.

However they crumbled after lunch, losing five wickets for 26 runs in 10 overs, with Piedt picking up the key wickets of opener Vusi Sibanda (45) and captain Brendan Taylor (5).

Keeper Richmond Mutumbami offered some resistance with 43. However, Steyn had him caught behind before Piedt picked up his ninth wicket of the match as John Nyumbu offered a return catch.

Steyn wrapped up proceedings by clean-bowling No. 11 Tinashe Panyangara before Faf du Plessis hit the winning runs.

Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock helped give South Africa a 141-run first-innings lead in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club.

The Proteas made 397 on Day 3 in reply to the hosts' 256, with du Plessis making 98 and de Kock 81.

Zimbabwe were 28-1 in their second innings at stumps with Hamilton Masakadza fending a short Morne Morkel delivery to slip after making 19.

South Africa started the day on 201-4 with du Plessis adding 29 to his overnight score before falling perilously short of his fourth Test century, caught at backward short leg off spinner John Nyumbu.

In his 27 innings in Tests, Faf du Plessis has faced 2998 balls - i.e 111.04 balls per innings. #ZimvSA

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) August 11, 2014

That was the only wicket to fall in the morning session with de Kock reaching the adjournment on 75.

He added six to his career-high score before he handed Sean Williams his first Test wicket by flicking the ball to Vusi Sibanda at short mid-wicket.

Richmond Mutumbami and skipper Brendan Taylor appeal for an LBW. #ZimvSA #downforcricket pic.twitter.com/ZflUricJfV

— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) August 11, 2014

Left-arm spinner Williams picked up a second scalp as Vernon Philander was bowled for 17, and the afternoon session saw just 56 runs scored.

JP Duminy guided the tail, making 55, but he was the last man out as Nyumbu completed a five-wicket haul on debut after earlier having Dale Steyn (19) caught at cover.

.@ESPNcricinfo's wonderful stats team confirm that John Nyumbu is only the second Zimbabwean to take five on debut. After Andy Blignaut.

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) August 11, 2014

One of South Africa’s strengths over the last few years has been their consistency in selection in Tests. Even when players have looked a touch out of form, they have often been given the chance to prove that they’ve not lost their touch. They have been given time to come back and make a statement.

Many players have repaid the faith of the selectors by getting runs when they matter most, but at some point, the faith will run out.

Alviro Petersen is one of those who have been given time and who has made a comeback time and time again.

After a hundred on debut against India back in 2010, he struggled for a 16 innings before scoring his second hundred, managing just two fifties in between that. A hundred against Sri Lanka ensured that he would retain his place and, just two Tests later, he scored another ton away against New Zealand in Wellington.

One match after that, he scored a statement ton away against England at Headingley, with 182 at the top of the order, South Africa's only hundred of the match.

Since then, though, he has had mixed fortunes. There has been just one hundred and five fifties in that time period, and his average for that same period is  just 28.30. Since his last hundred, against New Zealand in Cape Town in 2013, he has scored just three fifties and has managed to pass 30 just seven times. In fact, getting out in the 30s is a mark of his innings as of late.

It happened again against Zimbabwe on Sunday. After looking relatively untroubled and on course to regain some of his form, Petersen got to 32, attempted a paddle sweep and was dismissed thanks to a crafty catch from Zim's keeper, Richmond Mutumbami. Any young player playing that shot would be forgiven for simply being a bit foolish, but a player in Petersen’s case will be lambasted—and he was.

Despite his failures, though, Petersen is still South Africa’s fifth-highest run scorer since January 2013.

There has been a core of consistent players in the middle order, which has allowed his top-order failures to be masked. With Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers contributing the bulk of South Africa’s runs over the last months, Petersen’s failures have not be as stark as they perhaps are in context.

While openers do have a tough job, especially when facing up to the new ball, they should still provide the base from which the team can build. Compare the record of South Africa’s openers over the past few months to that of Australia, England and even Sri Lanka, and it is quite evident that there is a weakness at the top.

Even England’s struggling Alastair Cook has managed to maintain a decent average in this time period (albeit having played more games). With Graeme Smith retiring suddenly earlier in the year, it is perhaps understandable that South Africa have persisted with Petersen until now.

Sri Lanka was going to be a tough tour and, perhaps, they simply did not want so many changes in such unfamiliar territory. But after getting out unnecessarily in three consecutive Tests, it might finally be time for Petersen to go.

South Africa’s next Test series is on home soil against the West Indies. There is no better time to try out a better opener than in that series. There are a few options for the Proteas.

Stiaan van Zyl has been in the squad since the Sri Lanka tour and was the top run scorer in domestic four-day cricket last season. Although he does not open in the longest format of the game, he does do so in limited overs and can easily transition into the role.

Alternatively, Du Plessis or Quinton de Kock could open. De Kock is a natural opener, but the added weight of keeping wicket might make this a tricky option.

If Petersen was a younger player, many would be more gracious with their calls for his head. But at 33 years old and with a wealth of young talent waiting in the wings, it might be time to cut him loose once and for all.

South Africa made slow progress as they replied to Zimbabwe’s 256 on the second day of the one-off Test in Harare.

The Proteas, who regained top spot in the ICC Test rankings last month, scored at less than 2.5 runs per over as they reached 201-4 at stumps.

Opener Dean Elgar and team-mate Faf du Plessis made patient half-centuries at the Harare Sports Club. Du Plessis was 69 not out at the close, having shared an unbeaten 44-run partnership with Quinton de Kock (27).

The hosts, ranked ninth of the 10 Test-playing nations, fought bravely to peg back SA, who were 146-2 at tea.

Alviro Petersen (32) was the first man to fall before lunch, caught by wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami off debutant spinner John Nyumbu. Elgar fell late in the afternoon session, having made 61 from 146 balls, with Mutumbami taking a superb one-handed catch to his left off the bowling of another debutant, Donald Tiripano.

The inexperienced hosts removed South Africa captain Hashim Amla in the second over after the adjournment, as he drove Tendai Chatara straight to cover after making four.

Only 11 runs were scored in the next 11 overs, and the pressure told on AB de Villiers as he picked out mid-wicket in an attempt to hit Nyumbu over the top.

Earlier, Dale Steyn picked up the final home wicket to complete his 24th five-wicket haul in Test matches.

Zimbabwe put in a brave showing on the first day of their one-off Test against South Africa at the Harare Sports Club.

The hosts, ranked ninth of the 10 Test-playing nations, reached 248-9 at stumps against the Proteas.

Captain Brendan Taylor led from the front with 93 as the Zimmies try to improve on a record that has seen them lose six of their seven previous Tests against their neighbours.

However, Dale Steyn and debutant Dane Piedt took four wickets apiece to peg back the home team's progress.

South Africa, who regained top spot in the ICC Test rankings last month, made the perfect start as Steyn had Vusi Sibanda caught at third slip for a duck in the third over.

Dale Steyn 376 Test wkt, level with Malcolm Marshall - Steyn (141 inns) is 10 innings faster than Marshall (151 inns) to 376 wicket. #ZimvSA

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) August 9, 2014

Mark Vermeulen, playing in his first Test match in over 10 years after a string of on- and off-the-field problems, then departed for 14 to spinner Piedt's first ball.

Dane Piedt becomes the 19th bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Tests. http://t.co/ZnQvtNVyhz #zimvsa

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 9, 2014

Zimbabwe went to lunch at 64-2 and off-spinner Piedt struck again after the adjournment by bowling Hamilton Masakadza through the gate after the opener had made 45.

Two balls later, Regis Chakabva was on his way for a duck as he tamely flicked Piedt to South African captain Hamish Amla at midwicket.

Steyn made further inroads either side of tea by removing Sean Williams (24) and Richmond Mutumbami (21).

6 - Dale Steyn has had a Test bowling average below 22 in six of the last eight years. Incisive.

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) August 9, 2014

After Vernon Philander got in on the act, Piedt denied Taylor a fifth Test century as he was caught on the deep-midwicket boundary.

Steyn picked up his fourth victim late in the day as the sides rounded off their first day of Test cricket against each other in nine years.

First Test, first ball, first wicket. That’s how Dane Piedt will remember Day 1 of the only Test between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Harare. As the only change to the side that beat Sri Lanka 0-1 in a series last month, there wasn’t much pressure on him to perform, but there was expectation.

He certainly lived up to that expectation and more. His first ball in Test cricket was flighted and turned, and the spinner himself admits that he tried to make a statement when he came on to bowl. But when one became two, he enjoyed it even more.

I tried to make a statement with my first delivery. I enjoyed my second dismissal more. It was the ideal offspinner's dismissal, through the gate and hit top of off stump. And it was around the wicket, too. I was trying to get the ball to straighten from there.

Having finished as the top wicket-taker in South Africa’s four-day domestic competition last year, Piedt’s rise to the top has been brisk. The 2013-14 season was his first season as a full franchise cricketer, and he repaid the faith of the selectors. He took 45 wickets at 19.93, including four five-fors and a hat-trick and kept things very tidy with, conceding  just 2.50 runs to the over.

That hard work at the domestic level earned him a place in the squad for the series against Sri Lanka. He did not play there, though, as South Africa opted to persist with Imran Tahir, but his returns were dismal. Even on pitches that offered much return, Tahir managed a sparse return of four wickets in two Tests. Piedt already has the same number of scalps, and it’s only been one innings.

While South Africa have never quite settled on Tahir as a long-term solution, Piedt’s performance in his debut Test against Zimbabwe could spell the end of the import’s Test career. Although Tahir still has plenty to offer in the shorter formats of the game, he has lacked consistency in the longer form. With such a statement of debut Test, Tahir’s Test career could very much be at an end.

Piedt, although still a rookie, showed much promise already. By the close of play, he had made history. He was only the second South African ever, and the first since readmission, to take a wicket off his first ball in Tests. He’s the 19th overall to do it.

What is most exciting about Piedt is his variations and knowing how to use them.  He switches between being both attacking and containing, showing maturity far beyond his 24 years and 41 first-class caps.   

It’s a refreshing and exciting prospect for a South African team that has lacked the substance of a real spinner for a long time.

He's the first South African spinner in a long time who can actually turn the ball and has vowed that he has far more to offer than what he’s shown on Day 1 in Zimbabwe.   

I have the topspinner and the carom ball, too. I only bowled one carom ball at the back end today because I tried to keep it nice and simple. I wanted to settle into the rhythm of bowling plenty of overs from one side.

He was taught that carom ball—by a 15-year-old kid—when he and a handful of other South Africans went on a spin camp to India back in 2012. Since then, he has learned more, matured more and kept on improving.

One of his favourite phrases is “stealing with the eyes”, meaning he is always learning, even if he is just tuning in to watch a Test on TV.  If this is what he’s learned from watching from afar, just imagine where he could be once he starts watching the best in the world from a front-row seat.

All stats via ESPNCricinfo unless otherwise stated.

All quotes obtained firsthand from press conferences or from one-on-one interviews by the writer with Dane Piedt.