Cricket: Zimbabwe struggle as rain aids South Africa

Zimbabwe 48-3 v South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA restricted Zimbabwe to 48 for 3 off 23 overs before rain washed out the opening day of the second Test here yesterday.

The Zimbabwe opener Grant Flower pushed forward tentatively to a delivery from the pace bowler Lance Klusener to be caught at second slip by Jacques Kallis for five.

Zimbabwe were 6 for 2 three balls later when the fast bowler Shaun Pollock's away-swinger came off the face of Trevor Gripper's bat and clipped the top of his stumps. He had made one run.

A downpour halted play for three-and-a-half hours after Murray Goodwin pulled Klusener over mid-wicket for six and drove him through the covers for four in the same over.

Goodwin was dismissed for 17 nine balls after the resumption when he edged a delivery from Pollock to Hansie Cronje at third slip.

Pollock took 2 for 10 in his opening six-overs, while Allan Donald did not concede a run in his second spell of four overs.

Both teams observed a minute's silence in memory of the former West Indies fast bowler Malcolm Marshall, who died last week. The South Africans wore black armbands, along with the Zimbabwe all-rounder Neil Johnson, who played for Natal with Marshall.

First day of five; South Africa won toss

ZIMBABWE - First Innings

G W Flower c Kallis b Klusener 5

T R Gripper b Pollock 1

N Johnson not out 18

M W Goodwin c Cronje b Pollock 17

A Flower not out 2

Extras (lb3, nb2) 5

Total (for 3) 48

Fall: 1-6, 2-6, 3-35.

To bat: *A D R Campbell, G J Rennie, G J Whittall, B C Strang, H K Olonga, M Mbangwa.

Bowling: Donald 6-4-4-0; Pollock 11-5-16-2; Klusener 6-0-25-1.