South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 45 Runs 1st ODI

South Africa began their season with a 45-run victory over neighbours, Zimbabwe, at Benoni yet were left with plenty to ponder after a battling century from Tatenda Taibu in a record sixth-wicket stand of 188. The game was done as a contest when Zimbabwe fell to 48 for 5, but Taibu and Stuart Matsikenyeri refused to roll over and plundered the home attack with Taibu reaching his second ODI hundred in the final over.

In their first outing since making an early exit from the Champions Trophy, South Africa's reshaped batting unit produced a solid effort as they piled up 295 for 5 after Hashim Amla top-scored with 80 alongside a fluent run-a-ball 51 from AB de Villiers and a powerful 39-ball fifty by Albie Morkel. With Ryan McLaren striking twice on debut and Dale Steyn claiming two in four balls the game was heading for swift end, but South Africa lost their intensity.

Taibu and Matsikenyeri exposed the bowling attack with Zimbabwe's highest sixth-wicket stand and their second largest partnership in ODIs. South Africa's bowling was a concern for them during the Champions Trophy and this performance will have done little to alleviate those worries ahead of the England series.

Wayne Parnell's return can't come soon enough with Dale Steyn still appearing short of a gallop. Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Charl Langeveldt are vying for spots against England, but neither made an outstanding case in this outing while, despite a lively innings, Morkel continued to look unthreatening with the ball at this level.

After struggling with the bat in Bangladesh - and slumping for an embarrassing 44 all out on one occasion - Zimbabwe will take great heart from their fighting effort and it could well encourage a shuffle of the order for the next game with Taibu and Matsikenyeri both making strong cases for promotion.

Scorecard Here

Zimbabwe return Series 323/7 against Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and put Zimbabwe in. His decision was immediately vindicated as Vusi Sibanda ticked his second ball, from Mahbubul Alam, into the waiting hands of Mushfiqur Rahim. When Mark Vermeulen departed in Mahbubul's second over, clipping straight to short midwicket, Zimbabwe were in trouble at 17 for 2. Having briefly given Zimbabwe hope, Charles Coventry was involved in a sloppy call for a second run and caught short by Mehrab Hossain jnr in the deep.

after 60/3 Hamilton Masakadza 102(112) and Brendan Taylor 94(103) good Partnership 142-run fourth-wicket Elton Chigumbura to post their highest total against Bangladesh also Zimbabwe rode on a fluent maiden ODI century by Hamilton Masakadza.

After this partnership Elton Chigumbura 61of just 33 Balls he is hits of 5 sixes and 3 fours his score and Stuart Matsikenyeri 23 runs of just 9 balls 2 sixes and 1 four.

Zimbabwe back on the series on this match inning. target set by Zimbabwe 323/7.