South Africa v Zimbabwe, 2006-07

At Bloemfontein, September 15, 2006 (day/night). First one-day international: South Africa won by five wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe 201-7 (50 overs) (V. Sibanda 51, C. J. Chibhabha 37, H. Masakadza 32); South Africa 202-5 (43.5 overs) (H. H. Dippenaar 85*, J-P. Duminy 60). Man of the Match: H. H. Dippenaar. One-day international debut: L. L. Bosman. Dippenaar and Duminy put on 121 to steer South Africa away from a sticky 33-3. Zimbabwe had batted well: they made 30 from the first 11 overs, but 80 from the next 16.

At East London, September 17, 18, 2006. Second one-day international: South Africa won by six wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe 152 (49.4 overs) (C. J. Chibhabha 38, E. Chigumbura 30; A. J. Hall 3-23); South Africa 156-4 (27.4 overs) (L. L. Bosman 38, J-P. Duminy 31*). Man of the Match: A. J. Hall. One-day international debut: A. N. Petersen. South Africa clinched the three-match series without breaking sweat. Only Chibhabha, who resisted 101 balls for 38, could cope with the seamers. This was originally scheduled to be a floodlit game, but heavy rain prevented any play on September 17.

At Potchefstroom, September 20, 2006 (day/night). Third one-day international: South Africa won by 171 runs. Toss: South Africa. South Africa 418-5 (50 overs) (L. L. Bosman 88, A. N. Petersen 80, J. H. Kallis 50, M. V. Boucher 147*); Zimbabwe 247-4 (50 overs) (T. Duffin 88, C. J. Chibhabha 46, H. Masakadza 54). Man of the Match: M. V. Boucher. Man of the Series: M. V. Boucher. One-day international debut: T. Kamungozi. A phenomenal innings from Mark Boucher blew Zimbabwe away. He did not bat until the 28th over, but from just 68 balls he slammed eight fours and ten sixes, hurtling to 100 from only 44 deliveries. He was violent, but he was lucky, too: he was dropped on 7, 59, 107, 122, 140 and 144. All the bowlers suffered, and one Chibhabha over disappeared for 26 (644264) as South Africa sprinted to 418. Largely eclipsed by the Boucher whirlwind was an opening stand of 160 between Bosman and Petersen, each in their debut series. Faced with the fourth-highest total in one-day internationals, Zimbabwe settled for survival: Duffin made a career-best 88 from 134 balls.