Van Buuren, Smith seal series for SA emerging

Mitchell van Buuren and Daniel Smith both hit unbeaten half centuries as South Africa Emerging cruised to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe Emerging that helped them clinch their five-match one-day series at Groenkloof Oval in Tshwane on Monday.

Captain Van Buuren struck one sixes and eight fours in his 69 not out (66 balls), while wicketkeeper Smith lashed two sixes and 10 boundaries in his 71-ball 78 – the pair combining for an unbroken 150-run partnership that took the hosts to their 245-run victory target with 7.4 overs to spare.

Earlier it was Nealan van Heerden (3/38), Peter Nqaba (3/38) and Jordan Hermann (3/17) that played a key hand for the home side as they shared six wickets to restrict the tourists to 244 all out.

Wesley Madhevere (67 off 94 balls, 4 fours) and Clive Madande (81 off 94 balls, 3 fours, 4 sixes) were the two men to shine for the visitors, but their efforts proved to be a consolation as Malibongwe Maketa’s charges claimed the series with a match to spare.

The performance by the South Africans were especially impressive considering they lost the opening match heavily just over a week ago.

But they have hit back well and again proved to too good for their opponents.

After winning the toss and bowling, the home side claimed four wickets inside the opening hour to leave the visitors on 63 for four inside 13 overs.

But Madhevere and Madande rebuilt excellently with a partnership worth 135 for the fifth wicket to propel their side into a strong 198 for four with nearly 15 overs to go.

However, Nqaba removed the former and latter was taken out by Hermann to open up the game for the South Africans again and they took full advantage.

They finished strongly to claim the last six wickets for 46 runs, setting the visitors on the back foot.

The hosts suffered an early blow when the in-form Hermann fell in the second over for one, but Joshua Richards (38) and Valentine Kitime (27) added 55 for the next wicket to set them on their way.

Although both fell before 100 was reached, together with George van Heerden (13), the tourists could do little to dislodge Van Buuren and Smith.