Langeveldt sinks woeful Zimbabwe

South Africa A completed a facile 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe A at Bulawayo, winning the final match of the series by 126 runs in a dreadfully one-sided contest. For the third game in succession Zimbabwe were outclassed, and their batsmen, who include several first-team members, looked technically deficient. It sent a worrying message to the national selectors days before the series against Bangladesh and weeks ahead of the World Cup.

In fairness to Zimbabwe, they made five changes to their side to ensure as many players as possible got time in the middle, but that only served to underline that there is no depth to the resources available. The bowling was wayward from the off, with a rate of ten-an-over early on as Alviro Petersen and Morne van Wyk, who have gorged themselves in all three games, cut loose. Zimbabwe did fight back in the latter stages of the innings, and Sean Williams emerged with credit as he took 3 for 18 with his left-arm spin.

Chamu Chibhabha (22) and Vusi Sibanda (20) gave Zimbabwe a decent start with an opening stand of 54, but Langeveldt scythed through a feeble middle order to crush any possibility of the home side even getting close to mounting a serious chase.