Kallis powers South Africa to victory

CHENNAI: Quite the best news for South Africa was the return of Jacques Kallis whose unbeaten 49 off 39 balls carried the Proteas to a comfortable eight-wicket win here Saturday against Zimbabwe in a warm-up game ahead of the ICC cricket World Cup.

In pic: Jacques Kallis enjoyed his return to action, finishing unbeaten on 49 © AFP

The South Africans, among the title favourites, had little difficulty in brushing aside Zimbabwe who were dismissed for 152 with skipper Graeme Smith utilizing all his bowling options. The Proteas then took just 23.3 overs to knock off the runs and reach the target for a loss of two wickets.

Kallis, recovering from a rib injury, did not bowl, but that was to be expected, and even otherwise, new ball bowler Morne Morkel and rookie leg-spinner Imran Tahir took three wickets apiece even as Zimbabwe collapsed.

Smith (41) and Hashim Amla (45) provided South Africa a solid start before Kallis finished off the game in style.

Earlier, the athletic South Africans showcased their fielding ability as they held the catches that came their way and their bowlers kept it tight while the Zimbabwe batsmen, barring opener Brendon Taylor (40) and Sean Williams (35), were all at sea.

It was just the sort of loosener that the South Africans were looking in preparations for their opening group fixture against the West Indies in Delhi Feb 24 while Zimbabwe travel to Ahmedabad where they face champions Australia Feb 21. —IANS

Scoreboard

Zimbabwe:

Brendon Taylor c de Villiers b Tahir 40
Charles Coventry c Tahir b Morkel 21
Tatendu Taibu c Smith b Morkel 0
Greg Lamb c de Villiers b Peterson 11
Elton Chigumbura lbw Peterson 0
Craig Ervine lbw Botha 8
Sean Williams (run out) 35
Regis Chakabva c de Villiers b Morkel 18
Prosper Utseya c Duminy b Tahir 5
Graeme Cremer (not out) 3
Shingirai Masakadza lbw Tahir 0

Extras: (Lb-6, Nb:2, W-3): 11.

Total (all out, 41.5 overs): 152

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-49, 3-76, 4-76, 5-82, 6-95, 7-141, 8-144, 9-152.

Bowling

Dale Steyn 6-1-29-0
Lonwab Tsotsobe 2-0-10-0
Morne Morkel 6-0-16-3
Wayne Parnel 5-0-11-0
Imran Tahir 8.5-0-35-3
Robin Peterson 6-1-21-2
J. Botha 6-0-18-1
Jean Paul Duminy 2-0-6-0.

South Africa

Hashim Amla c Taibu b Price 45
Graeme Smith st. Taibu b Lamb 41
Jaques Kallis (not out) 49
AB de Villers (not out) 12

Extras (w-6): 6
Total (for 2 wkts, 23.3 overs): 153.

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-117.

Bowling

Chris Mpofu 3-0-22-0
Prosper Utseya 3-0-14-0
Shingirai Masakadza 5-0-27-0
Ray Price 4-0-19-1
Graeme Cremer 4.3-0-26-0
Greg Lamb 4-0-45-1.