Right Handed batsman scored third century in four games to lead his side to final
South African batsman Faf du Plessis plays a shot during the cricket One Day International against Zimbabwe in Harare Zimbabwe
Harare: Faf du Plessis hit his third century in four games as South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 63 runs on Thursday to book a date with Australia in the triangular series final. Du Plessis’ 121 carried the Proteas to 271 for six after they were put in to bat, before JP Duminy picked up three wickets as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 208.
Zimbabwe had to chase down their target in 25.2 overs if they were going to gain a bonus point and improve their net run rate sufficiently to knock South Africa out, but didn't even come close to winning with Brendan Taylor’s 79 the only score of note.
South Africa will meet Australia at the same venue in the final on Saturday.Du Plessis paced his innings superbly on another turning pitch to score 121 from 140 deliveries, which allowed the Proteas to recover from the early loss of their openers.
The No. 3 batsman only scored his maiden one-day hundred last Wednesday against Australia, but followed it up with 126 against the same opposition in a losing cause on Tuesday before adding a third century on Thursday. Du Plessis’ innings made it almost impossible for Zimbabwe to qualify for the final.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa: Q. de Kock c Taylor b Chatara 2, H. Amla c Chigumbura b Madziva 14, F. du Plessis c Chigumbura b Nyumbu 121, R. Rossouw b Williams 36, AB de Villiers (run out) 16, JP Duminy c & b Duminy 51, D. Miller (not out) 10, W. Parnell (not out) 10. Extras (2lb, 9w) 11. Total (for six wickets in 50 overs) 271.
FoW: 1-2, 2-26, 3-96, 4-120, 5-223, 2-46.
Bowling: Chatara 6-0-31-1, Madziva 6-0-53-2, Nyumbu 8-0-53-1, Williams 10-1-38-1, Utseya 10-0-55-0, Waller 10-0-39-0.
Zimbabwe: V. Sibanda run out 11, Sikandar Raza c Miller b Parnell 29, H. Masakadza c de Villiers b Duminy 26, B. Taylor b Duminy 79, S. Williams c Amla b Duminy 3, E. Chigumbura c Miller b Rossouw 13, M. Waller c de Kock b Phangiso 17, P. Utseya c Amla b Steyn 0, N. Madziva (run out) 3, T. Chatara (not out) 10, J. Nyumbu lbw b Duminy 4. Extras (1lb, 11w, 1nb) 13. Total (in 47.2 overs) 208.
FoW: 1-31, 2-46, 3-77, 4-85, 5-110, 6-156, 7-157, 8-166, 9-202, 10-208.
Bowling: Steyn 8-1-24-1, Duminy 8.2-0-35-3, Morkel 8-0-41-1, Parnell 8-0-39-1, Phangiso 10-0-38-1, Rossouw 3-0-17-1, de Villiers 2-0-13-0.
( Source : AFP )
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