PROTEAS BLOSSOM IN THE SECOND ODI
Proteas skipper Graeme Smith will be much happier with his team’s performance after South Africa crushed Zimbabwe by 212 runs in the second One Day International at Supersport Park in Centurion.

Again Zimbabwe won the toss and asked South Africa to bat first which backfired from the onset. Smith and the returning to action Jacques Kallis blazed 108 for the first wicket with Kallis particularly severe on any misdirected delivery.

Smith scored yet another half century before he was stumped by Tatenda Taibu. AB De Villiers came and went before the JP Duminy show started

Kallis & Duminy shared in a stand of 78 before Kallis was undone by the flight of Utseya, South Africa’s most experience campaigner notching up 81from 105 balls.

Alviro Pietersen and Albie Morkel could not get going but the arrival of Mark Boucher had the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Boucher and Duminy smashed 58 from the final 33 deliveries as South Africa posted an impressive 331/5. Duminy was once again the star of the show with his maiden ODI ton (111*) from only 87 balls.

South Africa received criticism for their poor bowling display in Benoni but their would be no let up this time around.

Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel and Roelof Van Der Merwe claimed 3 wickets a piece while Tatenda Taibu offered the only resistance for Zim with 52.

The visitors finally skittled for 119 in the 35th over handing South Africa a comfortable win!!

So how did South Africa do over the 2 match series???

The statistics never lie so here they are starting with the batting:

1. Graeme Smith scored 88 runs at an average of 44.00
2. Hashim Amla had one knock of 80 so his average is therefore also 80.00
3. AB De Villiers scored 56 runs at an average of 28.00
4. Mark Boucher scored 49 runs at an average of 49.00
5. Alviro Pietersen scored 52 runs at an average of 26.00
6. JP Duminy had one knock of 111* so he has no average
7. Albie Morkel scored 64 runs at an average of 64.00
8. Ryan Mclaren scored 6* in his only innings so no average
9. Jacques Kallis scored 81 in his only knock so he averages 81.00

BOWLING (Wickets only)

1. Dale Steyn (2)
2. Ryan Mclaren (3)
3. Charl Langeveldt (3)
4. Lonwabo Tsotsobe (2)
5. Roelof Van Der Merwe (3)
6. Johan Botha (0)
7. Albie Morkel (3)

Next the Proteas battle England in two T20 Internationals starting on Friday while the 2nd match is on Sunday.

Lastly I would like to wish the Springboks the best of luck as they meet France on Friday night and Bafana Bafana meet Japan on Saturday!

Let’s support our National teams this weekend!!