By Paul Bakel
July 17 2003
Neil McKenzie and Monde Zondeki pressed their claims for Test selection as South Africa's tour match at Taunton petered out into a tame draw on a rain-affected final day.
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Neil McKenzie and Monde
Zondeki pressed their claims for Test selection as South Africa's tour
match at Taunton petered out into a tame draw on a rain-affected final
day. After the start was delayed until 2.15pm, McKenzie top scored with 82
not out to help the visitors extend their second innings total to 245 for
four before declaring to leave Somerset an unlikely victory target of 327
in 35 overs. They finished on 109 for three after another short rain
break. Zondeki followed up his five first innings wickets with one for 20 in
two impressive spells. For Somerset there was promise for the future in
the batting of inexperienced Wes Durston and Carl Gazzard, who finished
unbeaten on 30 and 35 respectively. But it was dismal viewing for a sparse crowd as South Africa captain
Graeme Smith declined to set up an exciting finish with an enterprising
declaration. He was content to watch McKenzie and Boeta Dippenaar build on
an overnight 126 for two against some tame bowling. Dippenaar, unbeaten on 52 at the start, could add only 16 before
pulling Somerset trialist Gary Gilder to deep backward square where
Durston took a well judged catch. McKenzie had looked in excellent form making 66 in the first innings
and again produced some well timed strokes to hit 12 fours in his 129-ball
innings, never looking in much trouble. Robin Peterson fell cheaply to Keith Parsons, but Smith, having dropped
himself down the order to number six, capitalised on the occasional
off-spin of Matt Wood to add 26 not out to his first innings 152. When Smith finally called a halt the asking rate was 9.6 an over and
Somerset made little attempt to chase the target. Zondeki made a
breakthrough with the total on 16 when Wood edged an attempted cut to
wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile. Charl Willoughby struck with his first ball of the innings, trapping
Parsons lbw for two with an inswinger, and Dewald Pretorius removed fellow
countryman James Bryant, who chopped a short ball onto his off stump
having made 27. But, while Willoughby and Pretorius bowled well in patches in the
match, Zondeki was the seamer who caught the eye, cutting Bryant in half
with one speedy delivery that nipped back and beating him for pace with
another beauty. Durston and Gazzard needed one or two narrow escapes to put together
their unbroken stand of 50 for the fourth wicket and by the time Smith
declined to use the final half hour most of the spectators had already
headed for home. |
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