Zimbabwe v South Africa

At Bulawayo, September 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Drawn. Toss: Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe avoided defeat for the first time in their five Tests against South Africa, thanks partly to the loss of the second day's play, but also to the visitors' reluctance to take risks and a much-improved showing from Andy Flower's team-mates. Streak was able to claim first use of another superb pitch, and the openers Campbell and Ebrahim put on 152 in almost five hours, only to fall in quick succession just before the close. The weather was cold and blustery, very rare for Bulawayo in September, and on the second day, even more surprisingly, it gave way to rain. With Zimbabwe's middle order scoring consistently, if not heavily, it was not until late on the third day that South Africa began their innings.

The fourth day brought ponderous batting on a placid pitch against a toothless attack, handicapped by an injury to Paul Strang, playing his first Test for ten months. In his first over, he damaged his right hand in a valiant attempt to catch a fierce drive from Gibbs, the only batsman who really tried to force the pace. Although Strang returned later, he could bowl only with great discomfort.

Gibbs earned praise for walking when he edged Price to the keeper; Kallis earned brickbats for his laboriousness. He did briefly show more intent on the final morning, around the time he reached his century (in five and a half hours off 280 balls). It seemed that South Africa might be aiming to declare at lunch on roughly equal terms, and then mount an assault on the fragile Zimbabwean batting; defeat was already impossible. In fact, they continued past the interval, when they were 29 behind, and into the last afternoon, when Pollock and Boucher finally showed some initiative. They hit out while Kallis lumbered towards the double-century he never reached, despite batting for 580 minutes in the cushiest conditions he could have wished for. His total for the series was a record 1,028 minutes without dismissal, and his Test average rose from 41.00 to 46.38. The awards he won might have gone to Andy Flower or to Ray Price, who took five good wickets and bowled 79 overs of left-arm spin, beating by ten the Zimbabwean record of his ailing partner, Strang, at Sheikhupura in 1996-97.

Pollock's tardy declaration, 100 to the good, brought about an early tea, and the South Africans, too late, began to apply pressure. Henderson obtained considerable turn, but the tourists missed an effective second spinner. Even so, the batsmen had a difficult time before Masakadza overcame a nervy start and settled in, assisted by the calm presence of Flower, to secure the draw. Had Zimbabwe been required to bat for a full day on the wearing pitch, they would have struggled to survive. South Africa's willingness to sit on a 1-0 lead had let them off lightly.

Man of the Match: J. H. Kallis. Man of the Series: J. H. Kallis.

Close of play: First day, Zimbabwe 154-2 (Masakadza 2, Carlisle 0); Second day, No play; Third day, South Africa 26-0 (Gibbs 15, Kirsten 11); Fourth day, South Africa 300-2 (Kallis 81, McKenzie 74).