South Africa, fuelled by robust innings from Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs, cruised to the easiest of victories at the Harare Sports Club and with it took an unassailable 2-0 series lead. Smith fell for 96 but Gibbs clobbered the bowling for his 17th one-day hundred, a 100-ball 111 with 16 fours and a pair of sixes.
Tatenda Taibu, Sean Williams and Stuart Matsikenyeri were the architects of Zimbabwe's much-improved total of 247 but the bowlers failed to produce even a fraction of their innovativeness as the tourists cantered home by eight wickets, reports Cricinfo.
Smith and Gibbs enjoyed their batting practice and didn't break a sweat as they led South Africa's pursuit.
Neither batsman appeared in any hurry initially yet still found the boundary ropes. Smith was fluent off the pads, flicking and pulling boundaries whenever the bowlers erred, but left alone outside off regularly.
It wasn't until the 13th over that Smith took on the bowlers. Gary Brent was driven for three consecutive fours on the off side, and a top-class straight drive in the next over, just after a flick to fine leg, brought up his fifty from 53 balls. Chris Mpofu tried to bounce Smith but only looked on as the ball raced across the turf for four.
In the 24th over Smith skipped down the track and hammered Prosper Utseya for a massive six before sweeping for four. Smith's second six, though not off the meat of the bat, cleared wide long-on by some distance.
Gibbs, who opened in the absence of a hospitalised Loots Bosman, played second fiddle initially but toyed with the bowling after crossing fifty.
He raised the team's 50 in the tenth over with a powerful back-foot cut through the covers but the first aggressive shot was a dismissive front-foot smash over midwicket for four soon after.
Utseya, Zimbabwe's captain, brought himself on for some spin in the 16th over. Gibbs liked what he saw, and pulled the second ball to the boundary.
Keith Dabengwa, who replaced Timycen Maruma from the first match, was easily picked for runs as well. Gibbs needed 58 balls for his fifty and hit three back-to-back fours in the 25th over.
South Africa 251 for 2 (Gibbs 111, Smith 96) beat Zimbabwe 247 for 7 (Williams 54, Matsikenyeri 52) by eight wickets
Gibbs, Smith propel SA to series win
FE Team | Published: August 26, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
Share if you like