De Villiers' rare slip-ups
Plays of the Day from the second ODI between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Bulawayo
Firdose Moonda
19-Aug-2014
Wayne Parnell completed the other half-century for South Africa, by taking his 50th wicket in ODIs • AFP
Catch of the day
Once renowned for their ability as feisty fielders, Zimbabwe have allowed inconsistency to creep into that aspect of their game recently but rolled back the years with their display today. They did not put down a single chance offered to them with the best taken by the captain. Elton Chigumbura had to rely on quick reactions when Quinton de Kock danced down to drive John Nyumbu over extra cover. Chigumbura moved swiftly to his left and held on with both hands to keep South Africa's wonder-kid quiet.
Once renowned for their ability as feisty fielders, Zimbabwe have allowed inconsistency to creep into that aspect of their game recently but rolled back the years with their display today. They did not put down a single chance offered to them with the best taken by the captain. Elton Chigumbura had to rely on quick reactions when Quinton de Kock danced down to drive John Nyumbu over extra cover. Chigumbura moved swiftly to his left and held on with both hands to keep South Africa's wonder-kid quiet.
Botch of the day
AB de Villiers is known for being able to sneak a run from nowhere, but today, he allowed Zimbabwe to sneak a run-out. De Villiers thought he had clipped Prosper Utseya to fine leg and, with an eye over his right shoulder, took off for a single. He should have been looking over his left, where the ball had stopped next to wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami, who only had to wait to pick it up and break the stumps to ensure de Villiers could keep going... back to the dressing room. After play, de Villiers said Faf du Plessis' tone of voice from the non-striker's end seemed to suggest: "Oh my goodness, what are you doing?"
AB de Villiers is known for being able to sneak a run from nowhere, but today, he allowed Zimbabwe to sneak a run-out. De Villiers thought he had clipped Prosper Utseya to fine leg and, with an eye over his right shoulder, took off for a single. He should have been looking over his left, where the ball had stopped next to wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami, who only had to wait to pick it up and break the stumps to ensure de Villiers could keep going... back to the dressing room. After play, de Villiers said Faf du Plessis' tone of voice from the non-striker's end seemed to suggest: "Oh my goodness, what are you doing?"
AB's other error of the day
It's unusual enough to have one de Villiers mistake to discuss in a match, but two is unheard of. De Villiers' second slip came, ironically, in that position. Mutumbami poked uncertainly at a Kyle Abbott delivery that seamed away and got a healthy outside edge that carried to de Villiers' right at catchable height. De Villiers had to move just a foot in the ball's direction that way and went with both hands but got the ball on the fingertips instead of in the palms and shelled the chance.
It's unusual enough to have one de Villiers mistake to discuss in a match, but two is unheard of. De Villiers' second slip came, ironically, in that position. Mutumbami poked uncertainly at a Kyle Abbott delivery that seamed away and got a healthy outside edge that carried to de Villiers' right at catchable height. De Villiers had to move just a foot in the ball's direction that way and went with both hands but got the ball on the fingertips instead of in the palms and shelled the chance.
Fifty of the day
South Africa's only half-century of the day with the bat came from Faf du Plessis, but there was another fifty worth celebrating as well. When Wayne Parnell had Elton Chigumbura caught off a top edge as he tried to pull a short ball that got big on him, Parnell claimed his 50th ODI wicket in his 36th match. In celebration Parnell pulled out a little dance that looked like a clever interpretation of a Walk like an Egyptian act.
South Africa's only half-century of the day with the bat came from Faf du Plessis, but there was another fifty worth celebrating as well. When Wayne Parnell had Elton Chigumbura caught off a top edge as he tried to pull a short ball that got big on him, Parnell claimed his 50th ODI wicket in his 36th match. In celebration Parnell pulled out a little dance that looked like a clever interpretation of a Walk like an Egyptian act.
Stop of the day
The real de Villiers finally stood up in the field when he stationed himself on the boundary and saved two runs as only he can. Sean Williams swept JP Duminy to deep midwicket and would have thought he'd pierced the field but de Villiers ran around, dived, saved the ball, stood up and threw it in in one flowing move, like a pen fashioning a word without leaving the page. Those two runs made little difference to the eventual result but at least they served as a reminder that the de Villiers the cricketing world has come to admire was still out there.
The real de Villiers finally stood up in the field when he stationed himself on the boundary and saved two runs as only he can. Sean Williams swept JP Duminy to deep midwicket and would have thought he'd pierced the field but de Villiers ran around, dived, saved the ball, stood up and threw it in in one flowing move, like a pen fashioning a word without leaving the page. Those two runs made little difference to the eventual result but at least they served as a reminder that the de Villiers the cricketing world has come to admire was still out there.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent