The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Proteas wrap it up in two days

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Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Proteas wrap it up in two days

CAPE TOWN, MARCH 6. Zimbabwe slid to defeat by an innings and 21 runs within two days of the first Test on Saturday. South African left-arm spinner Nicky Boje took four wickets for 106 runs as Zimbabwe was dismissed for 265.

It was the 11th shortest Test in terms of balls bowled, and only the fourth time since World War II that a Test match has been concluded inside two days. Boje had to survive a battering from Andy Blignaut, who smashed him for six sixes in his defiant innings of 61 at the Newlands Stadium.

Blignaut, who hit his boundaries when there were only two wickets left, came close to making South Africa bat a second time. Zimbabwe was dismissed for just 54 in its first innings and South Africa rattled up 340 for three before declaring overnight.

"It builds confidence knowing we can bat against these guys," said Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu of his team's second innings.

"It was a lot harder the second time round," added South African captain Graeme Smith. "The Zimbabwe batters showed a lot of application."

Boje, who seemed to struggle with his rhythm before lunch, found line, length and flight in the afternoon session to pick up the wickets of Hamilton Masakadza for 46, Brendan Taylor for nine and Elton Chigumbura for a duck to finish the session with three for 43. He finished off the innings by having Blignaut stumped as the batsman tried for one more six. Earlier, Dion Ebrahim hit a defiant 72 in partnership of 98 with Masakadza before he was unfortunate to be adjudged leg before wicket. — AP

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