Second one-day international, Potchefstroom:
South Africa 273-2 (39 ovs) bt Zimbabwe 268 by eight wickets
Match scorecard
 Theron was only playing after a spate of injuries to SA bowlers |
Rusty Theron, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers starred for South Africa as they took a winning 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in their one-day series. Zimbabwe produced a respectable effort with the bat as Tatenda Taibu's 78 left South Africa to chase 269 after seam bowler Theron had taken 5-44. But at fast-scoring Potchefstroom such a target failed to tax the hosts. Amla continued his terrific form with 110 and AB de Villiers made 101 not out in an eight-wicket victory. The winning hit came from the last ball of the 39th over as De Villiers smacked a ball from Brendan Taylor back over the bowler's head for six to bring up his century off just 72 balls. Earlier, 25-year-old Theron, in only his second one-day international, showed the value of maintaining a disciplined line and length while varying his pace, bowling two batsmen and having three others caught behind by wicketkeeper De Villiers.  | 606: DEBATE |
Taibu was on target to score his third century in five internationals against South Africa until he sliced a catch to backward point off Charl Langeveldt from the first ball of the batting powerplay, taken with seven overs remaining in the Zimbabwe innings. Keith Dabengwa and Prosper Utseya hit one or two useful blows but Zimbabwe failed to bat out their overs, with Graeme Cremer the last man out when bowled by Man-of-the-Match Theron with 10 balls to go. "It's been a dream start for me, but you tend to wake up from dreams, so the next part is to try to maintain momentum. "I'm very happy to get the opportunity. I didn't really expect it but whenever an opportunity comes along you do your best to make the most of it and so far, so good," Theron commented. South Africa's chase proved straightforward after Amla put on 84 with Graeme Smith in less than 13 overs before featuring in an even more productive stand with De Villiers. The two right-handers added 139 in 20.3 overs to put the result beyond doubt, with Amla reaching his third century in four one-day innings and his fourth in seven before being caught at mid-on, leaving JP Duminy and De Villiers to take South Africa over the line. The three-match series finishes on Friday at Benoni.
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