The bubble bursts. Discarded Johnson stars as Zimbabwe crush South Africa (30 May 1999)

30 May 1999

The bubble bursts. Discarded Johnson stars as Zimbabwe crush South Africa.

COLIN BRYDEN Chelmsford

South Africa looked anything but world champions as they crashed to a 48-run defeat against Zimbabwe yesterday. Their bowling and fielding was lacklustre and the top-order batting calamitous.

They lost two valuable points. Zimbabwe made sure of qualifying because of the margin of their win, whether or not India beat England in a match that will be finished today after being interrupted by rain.

South Africa could not have had a ruder reminder that they need to keep raising their standard if they are to win the World Cup.

Zimbabwe, for whom the former Natal allrounder Neil Johnson was outstanding with an innings of 76 and an opening spell of three for 27, had three reasons to be fired up. They seized their chance of qualifying for the Super Six. They have long been keen to score a first win over powerful neighbours whom they perceive as being somewhat arrogant, mainly because the United Cricket Board has been less than generous in fostering playing relationships north of the border. And their captain, Alistair Campbell, revealed that his men were stung by dismissive media comment after their defeat by England earlier in the week, when they had the worst of conditions after being put in to bat, and were determined "to show the world we can play".

Zimbabwe played with the spirit of South Africa when they were underdogs in their first World Cup in 1992, fielding with zeal and making the most of their limited resources in a fine team effort.

As for South Africa, complacency proved yet again to be an implacable foe of successful sporting teams. Perhaps the policy of encouraging relaxation was taken too far, with four days in Amsterdam followed by the arrival of wives and girlfriends on the day before the game.

If there was to be a poor performance, though, this was not a bad day for it, although the loss of points is a blow. Better to play poorly now than in a crucial Super Six game or in the semifinals. Itwill be Zimbabwe who will take four points through if India win today, having beaten both India and South Africa. If England win, all three qualifiers will have two points.

South Africa may have to review their strategies. For a side priding themselves on their flexibility, they have stuck rigidly to their bowling plan while their toporder batting is in disarray, with too much reliance on the lower order.

For the second successive match, the new ball attack of Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis failed to make a breakthrough. Kenya made 66 before losing their first wicket in Holland and yesterday Johnson and Grant Flower put on 65 before Flower was out in the 14th over.

Johnson, a tall left-hander, had his moments of luck but there were many handsome strokes by the 29-year-old allrounder, who was a respected but seldom exalted performer in South African provincial cricket. Johnson played for South Africa A but was always behind the likes of Kallis, Pollock and Klusener as a potential international allrounder.

Kallis, whose opening six overs cost 35 runs in Amstelveen, was again given six overs with the new ball. He conceded 36 runs, including three boundaries by Johnson in his fifth over.

Johnson reached 50 off 57 balls with ten boundaries, losing his fluency when the fields became more defensive. He did not add another boundary in facing another 60 deliveries.

Murray Goodwin and Andy Flower hit the ball crisply. Running between the wickets was a notable feature of Zimbabwe's innings, with precise placement and quick decisions confounding even Jonty Rhodes.

Andy Flower hit the shot of the day when he went forward to Donald and lifted the ball cleanly over the fast bowler's head.

Given the fast start by Zimbabwe, South Africa did well to keep them in check during the middle overs, with Donald and Klusener both bowling well. With Kallis and Steve Elworthy expensive, Cronjé brought himself on and sent down nine tidy overs.

A target of 234 seemed well within South Africa's compass on a ground on which Zimbabwe had hit 23 fours and two sixes, but Johnson's first ball climbed on Kirsten and resulted in a catch to gully.

Mark Boucher and Herschelle Gibbs got in a terrible tangle after a superb save by Adam Huckle at midwicket. Boucher again failed as an international top-order batsman. He heaved across the line and was trapped in front.

Cullinan and Pollock gave South Africa a glimpse of salvation with a stand of 66, which ended in the 30th over before Klusener came in to play yet another untroubled innings.

Overs were running out when Pollock hit a hard, low shot to deep mid-off where Olonga ran around and snatched the ball before it went for six.

Klusener has not yet been dismissed in the tournament and has made 164 runs off only 145 balls with 14 fours and five sixes. Most of the top order must envy his assurance.

Source :: The Sunday Times