Amla and Dippenaar capitalise on their chances

South Africa A 287 for 2 (Amla 115*, Dippenaar 103*) v Zimbabwe Select
Scorecard

After a much better showing at Harare last week, Zimbabwe Select landed with a thump on the first day at Bulawayo as South Africa A cruised to 287 for 2 at the close. Hashim Amla and Boeta Dippenaar, the captain, both scored unbeaten hundreds in a second-wicket stand of 217 and both benefited from some poor fielding.

Dippenaar won the toss and batted on what proved to be a good batting track. Morne van Wyk and Imran Khan had an opening partnership of 51 which ended when Khan perished attempting a single that was never on. He pulled Prosper Utseya to square leg and set off for a quick run, but van Wyk remained rooted and Elton Chigumbura was left with the easiest task of whipping off the bails with Khan stranded in the middle of the park.

Fast bowler Christopher Mpofu then struck in the second over of his second spell of the morning when he trapped van Wyk leg-before for 30 with a rising delivery. He had already survived another close lbw shout earlier in the same over.

The dismissal was Zimbabwe's last success, but that was largely their own fault. Amla offered the first chance on 49 off left-arm spinner Keith Dabengwa but Stuart Matsikenyeri at midwicket failed to hold onto a hard catch.

Dippenaar was the next to be reprieved on 60 by Brendan Taylor off Mpofu, and he was dropped again on 77 when wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu missed a chance off legspinner Timycen Maruma.

In the penultimate over, Dippenaar, who had just completed his hundred, edged the unfortunate Mpofu to first slip but Hamilton Masakadza could not hold on.

South Africa will be keen to build on this platform but there are already signs that the pitch could offer more to Zimbabwe Select's three spinners who should finally get some turn.