Cricket Buzz: De Kock stars as SA cruise to Zimbabwe series whitewash

Opener Quinton de Kock smashed 84 as a weakened South Africa crushed Zimbabwe by seven wickets to complete a whitewash in their three-match ODI series at Queens Sports Club, in Bulawayo, on Thursday.

After putting their hosts in to bat, South Africa skittled Zimbabwe for 165 inside 40 overs before chasing down their target to end at 171 for three, with 136 balls to spare.

The Proteas, who had already rested fast bowling trio Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander for the series, left out their top two batsmen as well for the final match as Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers sat out.

That meant debuts for opener Rilee Rossouw and seamer Mthokozisi Shezi, and a return to the side for fast bowler Marchant de Lange.

The latter was the pick of the bowlers with a return of three for 31; his extreme pace had the Zimbabwe batsmen hopping around the crease.

Only Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura offered any sort of resistance to the Proteas with 90, as he put on 46 for the 10th wicket with Tinashe Panyangara, before he was bowled by a slower ball from De Lange to deny him his century.

All of the runs in the last wicket stand were scored by Chigumbura to add some respectability to Zimbabwe's total after they had looked as though they would be bowled out for under 120.

Rossouw's dream of playing international cricket turned into something of a nightmare when he was run out trying to steal a run off the first ball he faced.

If there were any jitters in the South African camp after that they were settled by the remarkable De Kock, who on Tuesday became the joint fastest player to 1000 ODI runs, and captain for the day Faf du Plessis (40).

De Kock perished late in the innings chasing his century with his 84 coming from 75 balls.

The two teams will now be joined by Australia in a triangular tournament to be played in Harare that starts on Monday.

Scorecard

Zimbabwe

H. Masakadza lbw b Abbott 4

R. Mutumbami c Rossouw b de Lange 0

S. Raza c Phangiso b McLaren 30

E. Chigumbura b de Lange 90

S. Williams b Phangiso 17

M. Waller c de Kock b de Lange 2

L. Jongwe lbw b Abbott 2

P. Utseya b Parnell 2

J. Nyumbu c du Plessis b Parnell 0

T. Kamungozi lbw b Shezi 1

T. Panyangara not out 0

Extras: (lb-6, w-11) 17

Total: (all out, 39.5 overs) 165

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-55, 4-89, 5-104, 6-109, 7-114, 8-114, 9-119, 10-165.

Bowling: K. Abbott 6-1-21-2, M. de Lange 7.5-0-31-3(w-5), R. McLaren 6-0-53-1(w-2), W. Parnell 8-0-33-2(w-3), M. Shezi 6-2-8-1(w-1), A. Phangiso 6-1-13-1.

South Africa

Q. de Kock c Williams b Panyangara 84

R. Rossouw run out (Waller) 0

F. du Plessis b Williams 40

J. Duminy not out 28

D. Miller not out 13

Extras: (nb-1 w-5) 6

Total: (for 3 wickets, 27.2 overs) 171

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-74, 3-144.

Did not bat: R. McLaren, W. Parnell, K. Abbott, A. Phangiso, M. de Lange, M. Shezi.

Bowling: T. Panyangara 6-0-39-1(nb-1), L. Jongwe 5-0-30-0(w-5), T. Kamungozi 3-0-32-0, J. Nyumbu 5.2-0-33-0, S. Williams 2-1-1-1, P. Utseya 6-0-36-0.

Result: South Africa won by 7 wickets

NEXT: Pollard, Ramdin blitz sinks Bangladesh

Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin rallied the West Indies to a three-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first One-Day International at the National Stadium in Grenada on Wednesday.

Reeling at 34 for five, in reply to the tourists' total of 217 for 9, Pollard scored 89 and Ramdin 74 in a 145-run sixth-wicket partnership as the hosts won with much to spare in the end.

Medium-pacer Al-Amin Hossain emerged with the bowling honours, taking three of the first five wickets to fall and finishing with four for 51.

He added the scalp of Pollard, who fell to an outstanding outfield catch by Mahmudullah as the big-hitting right-hander attempted to heave another six.

"It was good to be able to put my head down together with Denesh to bring the match home," said Pollard.

"No-one needs to remind me about that. I know what I have to do and I'm glad I was able to deliver today."

Anamul Haque's workmanlike hundred held the Bangladesh innings together as the visitors reached 217 for nine, batting first.

Put in on a pitch that made free scoring difficult, the opening batsman's 109 was essential to giving the innings some respectability with more senior players in the batting order failing to contribute significantly.

Fellow-opener Tamim Iqbal and lower-order player Nasir Hossain were the next best contributors with 26 runs apiece.

Scorecard

Bangladesh

T. Iqbal c Pollard b Holder 26

A. Haque lbw b Dw. Bravo 109

I. Kayes run out (Simmons, Ramdin) 9

Sh. Rahman c Ramdin b Dw. Bravo 8

M. Rahim c Narine b Gayle 12

M. Mahmudullah b Dw. Bravo 11

Nas. Hossain c Ramdin b Rampaul 26

S. Gazi run out (Gayle, Rampaul) 2

M. Mortaza c Pollard b Dw. Bravo 3

T. Ahmed not out 0

Extras: (lb-2, nb-1, w-8) 11

Total: (for 9 wickets, 50 overs) 217

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-69, 3-80, 4-117, 5-141, 6-194, 7-201, 8-217, 9-217

Did not bat: A. Hossain

Bowling: K. Roach 10-0-48-0(w-1), R. Rampaul 10-1-48-1(w-3), J. Holder 9-0-39-1(w-1), Dw. Bravo 7-0-32-4(nb-1, w-3), S. Narine 10-1-29-0, C. Gayle 4-0-19-1.

West Indies

C. Gayle c A. Hossain b Mortaza 3

K. Edwards b Mahmudullah 10

Da. Bravo c Rahim b A. Hossain 7

L. Simmons c Rahim b A. Hossain 0

D. Ramdin b Gazi 74

Dw. Bravo c Gazi b A. Hossain 5

K. Pollard c Mahmudullah b A. Hossain 89

J. Holder not out 22

S. Narine not out 3

Extras: (lb-1, w-5) 6

Total: (for 7 wickets, 39.4 overs) 219

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-20, 3-20, 4-22, 5-34, 6-179, 7-201

Did not bat: R. Rampaul, K. Roach

Bowling: S. Gazi 9-1-46-1, M. Mortaza 8-2-22-1, M. Mahmudullah 4-0-20-1, A. Hossain 8.4-0-51-4, T. Ahmed 7-0-46-0(w-1), Nas. Hossain 2-0-20-0, Sh. Rahman 1-0-13-0.

Result: West Indies won by 3 wickets

NEXT: Amir hopeful of making comeback to Pakistan team

Banned Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir said he was hopeful of being able to play cricket again after the induction of Shaharyar Khan as the new Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"Shaharyar sahib has been encouraging of me after taking charge (of the PCB) and I am hopeful something definite will come out in October," Amir added.

The PCB has asked the ICC to allow Amir to resume training at the National Cricket Academy and play domestic cricket before his ban ends. And a special committee formed by the ICC has already suggested amendments to the existing ICC anti-corruption laws, which will be ratified in October.

Under the new laws, the PCB is hopeful that Amir will get a chance to resume playing and training before his ban officially ends sometime in August 2015.

Shaharyar also told reporters this week that he would also be looking at the cases of Salman Butt and Asif once their bans are completed.

"If these players complete their punishments we will see what can be done," he said.

Next: Broad to undergo knee surgery

England pace bowler Stuart Broad will have surgery on his right knee on September 4, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old will miss the five One-day internationals against India starting on Monday, but is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup, which begins in February.

"I've been due for a while so can't wait to get sorted," Broad, who took 19 wickets in the recent test series against India and broke his nose in the fourth match, said on Twitter on Wednesday.