da luck： A superb tenth Test century by Andy Flower was the highlight of the thirdday’s play at Harare Sports Club, but despite his efforts Zimbabwe, whosebatting closely resembled the legendary curate’s egg, were forced to followon after being dismissed
John Ward09-Sep-2001A superb tenth Test century by Andy Flower was the highlight of the thirdday’s play at Harare Sports Club, but despite his efforts Zimbabwe, whosebatting closely resembled the legendary curate’s egg, were forced to followon after being dismissed by South Africa for 286. Batting again, they again relied on Flower to rescue them, finishing at 97 for three.Zimbabwe lost a wicket to the first ball of the morning, as Andre Nel made aball lift on the unsuspecting night-watchman Raymond Price (0), to lob offthe shoulder of his bat into the gully. With the total still on 143, GrantFlower (0) was brilliantly caught by Boeta Dippenaar at short leg off Neland Zimbabwe, capable of both heights and depths, seemed intent on plumbingthe latter.Guy Whittall at least seemed untroubled, and a large partnership was a realpossibility until Jacques Kallis, who had been in danger of losing his coolwhen attacked by Flower, deceived and yorked Whittall (16) with an excellentslower ball. Zimbabwe were 188 for seven, and it appeared that only anoutstanding partnership between Flower and Heath Streak could save thefollow-on.Flower, backing himself as he played his favourite reverse sweep severaltimes against the spin of Claude Henderson, reached 4 000 Test runs when hehad scored 92, but lost Heath Streak (7) just before lunch. The Zimbabwecaptain padded up to a ball from Henderson outside off stump that did nomore than hold its line, and was adjudged lbw by umpire Hair. The replayshowed the decision to be in error, but Streak had only himself to blame fornot playing a stroke.Flower duly reached his tenth Test century, and the first by a Zimbabweanagainst South Africa, in the first over after lunch, playing a rare straightdrive to the boundary past bowler Makhaya Ntini. Every one of histhree-figure scores has been recorded in adversity.Travis Friend gained in confidence as South Africa took the second new ball,hitting three fours in an over from Nel, although one was an accidental andamusing deflection to fine leg off the back of the bat as he ducked abouncer. Is this the birth of the reverse cut? Flower hammered Pollock forthree successive off-side boundaries, and it was Nel who finally broke thestand, as Friend (30) edged him to third slip. The pair had added aninvaluable 75 for the ninth wicket.Douglas Hondo defended gallantly until Flower was last out, adjudged lbw toPollock for 142 by umpire Tiffin despite being hit outside the line of offstump while playing a stroke. He faced 200 balls and hit 14 fours as theZimbabwe innings came to an end for 286. Nel, on his debut, took fourwickets for 53. 314 runs behind, Zimbabwe were required to follow on.Zimbabwe were soon rocked by the loss without a run on the board of DionEbrahim, who failed to learn from his captain the danger of padding upwithout playing a stroke, although this time umpire Hair’s decision infavour of Pollock looked good. Then, on the stroke of tea, Kallisagain took a wicket in his first over, bowling Alistair Campbell (7) throughthe gate via the inside edge. Zimbabwe were once again in trouble at 18 fortwo.Craig Wishart (6) was caught at slip off Pollock, a second failure thatcould well move the selectors to drop him once again, and this brought inAndy Flower for the second time during the day. Once again, at 25 forthree, the innings was in crisis, and the positive strokeplay of the firstinnings was also lacking. Hamilton Masakadza, although looking sound,became becalmed, while Flower, although playing some good strokes, did notlook as comfortable as he had first time round.However, they kept their heads and their wickets intact, and towards theclose began to play with more freedom. Masakadza finished the day on 37 andFlower on 43, while Zimbabwe still need another 217 runs to avoid theinnings defeat.