Forrester ton leads emphatic SA emerging reply

cricket02 August 2024 18:33| © Cricket SA

Dian Forrester © X (@ZimCricketv)

A stellar unbeaten century by Dian Forrester led a perfect day two for South Africa Emerging in the first unofficial test against Zimbabwe Emerging at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Friday.

The left-hander landed eight fours and a six in his unbeaten 122 (180 balls) to help the tourists reach the close on 432 for three – a commanding lead of 216.

It was a dominant day all round for the away side with Modiri Litheko falling two short of a century thanks to an excellent 98 (144 balls, 12 fours, 1 six), Valentine Kitime posting a half-century of 65 (111 balls, 7 fours) and captain Mihlali Mpongwana recording an unbeaten 93 (141 balls, 9 fours).

The performance with the bat backed a superb bowling display on day one when they restricted the hosts to 216 all out after losing the toss and being put in to bowl first.

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 - 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘀: South Africa Emerging extending their lead over Zimbabwe Emerging to 216 runs.

432/3 in 107 overs

(Dian Forrester 122*, Modiri Litheko 98, Mihlali Mpongwana 93*; Arinesto Vezha 1/53, Ernest Masuku 1/81, Tapiwa Mufudza 1/97)#ZIMEvSAE #FourDayMatch pic.twitter.com/RHslZZ0ro7
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) August 2, 2024

Having reached 51 for none by the day one close, openers Litheko and Lesego Senokwane added another 19 on the second morning to continue the dominance.

The latter was then first to fall when he edged Arinesto Vezha (1-53) to slip for 35.

Kitime and Litheko rebuilt strongly from there as they added 132 for the second wicket to take the South Africans to a dominant 202 for one.

Both then fell within the space of five overs – the tourists falling to 224 for three – bringing together Mpongwana and Forrester.

The pair dominated from there with a superb 208-run fourth wicket partnership that was still unbroken by the end of the day.

It left Malibongwe Maketa’s side in a dominant position at the halfway point of the game.

SA EMERGING SQUAD

Mihlali Mpongwana (captain, Western Province), Jade de Klerk (Border), Dian Forrester (Free State), Valentine Kitime (Western Province), Tristan Luus (Dolphins), Dewan Marais (Easterns), Modiri Litheko (Titans), Andile Mogakane (Warriors), Nipho Mpungose (Free State), Caleb Seleka (North West), Lesego Senokwane (North West), Andile Simelane (Dolphins), Codi Yusuf (Lions), and Ntando Zuma (KZN Inland).

TOUR ITINERARY

FOUR-DAY MATCHES

1 - 4 August