Zimbabwe Impress but South Africa Win

Hamilton: David Miller and JP Duminy tons provided the guides South Africa a 62-run win against a impressive Zimbabwe at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Sunday.

Wobbling at 83 for four, South Africa were lifted by brilliant hundreds by David Miller (138 not out) and JP Duminy (115 not out), with the pair sharing an unbroken stand of 256 -- a new fifth-wicket record for all one-day internationals -- as they piled up 339 for 4.

Zimbabwe, as they had with the ball, started well with the bat and were 191 for two in the 33rd over as Hamilton Masakadza (80) and Chamu Chibhabha (64) threatened before they lost eight wickets for 86 runs.

Masakadza hit eight fours and two sixes in his 74-ball knock while Chibhabha knocked 10 boundaries off 82 balls but Zimbabwe's batting wilted after their departure.

Brendon Taylor chipped in with 40 and Solomon Mire scored 27.

South Africa's spearhead Dale Steyn struggled with his line as he conceded 38 runs in his first five overs before finishing with one for 64 in nine.

It was leg-spinner Imran Tahir (three for 36) who dismissed both Chibhabha and Masakadza in his first spell while Vernon Philander (two for 30) and Morne Morkel (two for 49) shared the spoils later on.

South Africa, after losing the toss, slumped to 83 for four against Zimbabwe's unheralded attack with key batsmen Hashim Amla (11) and skipper AB de Villiers (25) both falling cheaply.

Miller smashed nine sixes and seven fours off 92 balls to better his previous highest score of 130 not out against the West Indies at Port Elizabeth last month.

Duminy almost matched his fellow left-hander stroke for stroke, smashing three sixes and nine boundaries in his 100-ball knock.

Their partnership beat the previous fifth-wicket best of 226 which England's Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara shared against Ireland in Dublin two years ago.

South Africa had also lost Quniton de Kock (seven) and Faf du Plessis (24) by the 17th over and de Villiers (25) also didn't linger long.

De Villiers hit the first six of the innings, off Tendai Chatara but, trying to play a similar shot off leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi, he was brilliantly caught on the boundary by Craig Ervine.

Realising he was going over the rope in his attempt to hold onto the catch, Ervine threw the ball back before leaping across the boundary to complete the dismissal on the field.

But Zimbabwe failed to take any more wickets as Miller and Duminy smashed 146 runs in the last 10 overs, taking 30 alone in the 48th over bowled by Mire with three sixes and as many boundaries.

Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura won the toss and sent South Africa into bat.

South African all-rounder Farhaan Behardien passed a fitness test having recovered from a back problem in time for the match.

South Africa entered the game with three frontline seamers and leg-spinner Imran Tahir while Zimbabwe left out Prosper Utseya.

Teams

South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Farhaan Behardien, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn

Zimbabwe: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor (wk), Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Tinashe Panyangara, Sean Williams

Brief scores
South Africa - 339/4 (Miller 138*, Duminy 115*)
Zimbabwe - 277 (Masakadza 80, Chibhabha 64, Tahir 3-36)
Result - South Africa won by 62 runs
Points - South Africa 2, Zimbabwe 0
MOM - David Miller (South Africa)