De Villiers promises full force against Zimbabwe

Sport360 staff 07:10 19/08/2014
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  • Winning comes first: AB de Villiers.

    South Africa will ignore the tempta­tion to experiment and instead plan to field what they believe is their first-choice XI when they meet Zimbabwe in the second of three ODIs against Zimbabwe today.

    The Proteas cruised to a 93-run victory over their hosts in the first match on Sunday, with Hashim Amla scoring his fourth one-day hundred in six innings.

    The gulf between the two sides was clear throughout the match, but particularly in the South Afri­can innings when a strong batting line-up put an inexperienced Zim­babwean bowling unit containing three debutants to the sword in racking up 309 for three.

    South Africa had highlighted the series as an opportunity to have a look at some of their second-string players, and left out fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Ver­non Philander.

    Fast bowler Marchant de Lange, who has not played for South Af­rica for more than two years due to injury, and uncapped players Rilee Rossouw and Mthokozisi Shezi are standing by, but captain AB de Vil­liers confirmed they may only get a look-in for Thursday’s third ODI.

    “We’ll play our best XI (for today’s match),” De Villiers said. “We want to win the series – as long as I’m the captain, I want to win as many games as possible for South Africa.

    “I know there are a few new names that haven’t got a chance to play, but hopefully if we win the next game, then we’d like to experi­ment a bit with a few of them.”

    Meanwhile, Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura brushed off concerns that he could miss today’s clash with a quad injury.

    Chigumbura required on-field treatment just 17 balls into his knock, and looked uncomfortable as he scored 36 in Zimbabwe’s total of 216 all out.

    “I injured my quad but I think I will be fine,” Chigumbura said. “I just pulled it. I think I will be fine.”

    Seamers Tinashe Panyangara and Brian Vitori are likely to return to the Zimbabwe side in one of the two remaining games, and with opener Vusi Sibanda struggling for form, the hosts may consider a recall for Sikandar Raza Butt.

    Middle-order batsmen Malcolm Waller and Timycen Maruma will also be in the frame after Chigum­bura highlighted the top order as a cause for concern. 

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