Panyangara goes for a swim

Zimbabwe fans were dancing hours before the game at Garden Square in the city centre, and carried that into the ground where they took over the corner under the main scoreboard. Tinashe Panyangara could not help but carry on when he got Hashim Amla to play on. Panyangara got down on the ground, put his right hand in, took his right hand out, put his right hand in and shook it all about. It was part mock-swim, part worm-wiggle and all hokey-pokey. His team-mates could only watch and smile.

Craig Ervine showed remarkable composure when AB de Villiers sent a ball his way at long-off that seemed destined for six. Ervine made good ground to take a one-handed catch and when he saw his momentum would carry him over the boundary, he threw the ball back up in the air while he steadied himself, stepped back onto the playing field, and collected with both hands. Sometimes, it takes a superhuman effort to dismiss the man many consider a superman at the crease.

It seemed like it would never come after the man known for being a bludgeoner, was forced to bat like a big boy with South Africa in a tricky situation at 83 for 4. But Miller did the hard work and gave himself the opportunity to show off his best, which came after he brought up an 81-ball century. Solomon Mire was brought back on in the 48th over but like his team-mates, he could not find the yorker and presented a full toss instead. Miller had his eye in by then and lofted him for 86 metres over his head to kickoff an over of punishment. Mire's next five deliveries went for 24 in an over that cost 30 runs.

JP Duminy was content to play supporting actor to Miller for most of the innings but decided to steal the show as his century approached. The last over had begun and Duminy went for the paddle-flick over his head and the wicket-keeper's. With a short boundary behind him, even though it seemed as though the ball had gone straight up, it carried high over the outfield and onto the embankment while Duminy raised arms and punched the air in celebration.

This is not the first time Hamilton Masakadza has been to Hamilton. But it is the first time he has made a name for himself here. Zimbabwe's in-form No.3 took on the best bowler in the world with so much confidence, he even thwacked Dale Steyn over the covers to bring up his fifty. Masakadza stepped down the crease, made room and launched Steyn onto the grass embankment. It was Hamilton's moment in Hamilton and not even the most fearsome fast bowler could take it away.

Zimbabwe were making a fight of the chase until the end of the final drinks break when Brendan Taylor was deceived by a Morne Morkel slower ball which he chipped straight to mid-on. The dismissal had none of the bravado of a man falling on his sword, nor the bad luck of a big shot gone wrong but it was so limp, it silenced the singing crowd. As Taylor walked off, an eerie quiet settled over Seddon Park.