A career-best century by Ryan Rickelton set South Africa ‘A’ on their way to a massive 184-run victory over Zimbabwe ‘A’ in the second one-day match in Harare on Monday.
The Central Gauteng Lions batsman smashed 169 off 150 balls (15 fours, 3 sixes) as the visitors amassed 365 for six at the Harare Sports Club, where Senuran Muthusamy then claimed four for 37 to help bundle out the hosts for 181.
The result enabled Malibongwe Maketa’s side to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series, with the third game to come on Wednesday.
After comfortably winning the opening match of the tour on Saturday, the South Africans again dominated in match two.
Rickelton, who was called up by the Proteas earlier this year, was in extraordinary form, sharing in a first wicket partnership of 120 with Janneman Malan (53 off 52 balls, 6 fours) and then adding 137 for the second wicket alongside Reeza Hendricks (51 off 46 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes).
That took the away side to 257 for one in the 38th over, before the Zimbabweans put on the brakes slightly by picking up regular wickets.
However, the opener kept going until he finally fell with the score on 310, having gone past his previous best List A score of 157. It was also his fourth career century in 50-over cricket.
Captain Zubayr Hamza, batting way down at eight, provided the sting in the tail from South Africa when he bludgeoned an unbeaten 37 off 17 balls to lift them to a 366 target.
The hosts lost Chamu Chibhabha for a first ball duck to Glenton Stuurman (1/15) and Tarisai Musakanda (9) was taken out by Lutho Sipamla (1/27) not long after, leaving them on 34 for two.
But Dion Myers (70 off 63 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (48) raised their hopes thanks to a quick-fire 75-run third-wicket stand.
Once the latter fell in the 18th over, the next seven batsmen fell for 47 as the Zimbabweans suffered a poor collapse.
Dwaine Pretorius was at the heart of it with his two for 24, while Muthusamy was incredible in his 8.3 overs of spin – the local side all out in 35.3 overs.
South Africa A One-Day Squad
Ryan Rickelton (Central Gauteng Lions), Janneman Malan (Boland), Reeza Hendricks (Central Gauteng Lions), Zubayr Hamza (Western Province), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Dwaine Pretorius (North West), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sisanda Magala (Central Gauteng Lions), Junior Dala (Northerns), Lutho Sipamla (Central Gauteng Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (North West), Daryn Dupavillon (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Glenton Stuurman (Eastern Province), Theunis de Bruyn (Northerns), Wihan Lubbe (Eastern Province), Sinethemba Qeshile (Eastern Province).
South Africa A Four-Day Squad
Dominic Hendricks (Central Gauteng Lions), Eddie Moore (Eastern Province), Zubayr Hamza (Western Province), Raynard van Tonder (Free State), Theunis de Bruyn (Northerns), Senuran Muthusamy (North West), Sinethemba Qeshile (Eastern Province), Miguel Pretorius (Free State), Daryn Dupavillon (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Glenton Stuurman (Eastern Province), Lutho Sipamla (Central Gauteng Lions), Dayyaan Galiem (Northerns), Okuhle Cele (Northerns), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Ryan Rickelton (Central Gauteng Lions), Tshepo Ntuli (Central Gauteng Lions).
