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John Nyumbu

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THIS was supposed to be the Test where all the stories would be written by the Proteas, but refreshingly, while the powerful South Africans held the edge, on day three, they haven’t scripted all the highlights in a contest that hasn’t been the one-sided battle many had predicted.Yesterday, off-spinner John Nyumbu, making his debut on the Test arena at the age of 29, spun his way into the history books as he became only the second Zimbabwean to take a five-wicket haul on test debut, following the footsteps of Adam Huckle who took a five-for in his first Test against New Zealand at Harare Sports Club in 1997.

Nyumbu was the hero of the hardworking Zimbabwean bowling unit, well complemented by the tight spells bowled by Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara, while Donald Tiripano was rewarded with wickets and Sean Williams played his part and even captured his first Test wicket.

The Zimbabweans, supported by a very appreciate holiday crowd, fought with spirit, against the world’s top-ranked Test team who found that the task of trying to impose themselves on their plucky opponents was not as easy as many analysts had predicted.

The hawks have been waiting for the Zimbabwe implosion that would suggest they were not good enough to play at this level and our strange politics of our game mean that there are many, in this country, who would have wished that our team was blown away within two days for them to go on top of Mount Nyangani to tell the world that we aren’t good enough.

The Proteas might still blow us away, that’s the nature of cricket, but they will be the first to tell everyone, who cares to listen, that we aren’t really as bad as many people might have suggested in recent months.

The South Africans were forced to work for every run they put on the board, they felt the intensity of the contest and, for us, that means a lot because, if we can compete against the best team in the world, then we are in good shape.

No one knows what this story would have been if a number of calls had gone our way when we batted in the first innings and, crucially, if we had taken our chances when we create the pressure and the best players in the world felt it.

But that can wait for those obsessed with reviews.

In the meantime, we have a game on our hands and it’s a pity that Hamilton Masakadza, having shown good touch and hammered a glorious cover drive for four, from Dale Steyn of all people, and then blasted spinner Dane Piedt for a six over the backward square boundary, was lost for 19 in the testy overs we faced late yesterday.

The deficit is 113 runs, and there are nine wickets in hand, with Vusi Sibanda still there, somehow having survived all the drama he created, and night-watchman Donald Tiripano providing him the company as we try to overhaul South Africa’s first innings score of 397.

Du Plessis and Quinton de Kork (81) put on a 119-partnership before the former, on 98, danced down the track , the ball turned and kissed the edge and Regis Chakabva, at short leg, completed the formalities.

And Nyumbu liked it.

“Of course, Faf was definitely the best wicket I took among the five,” Nyumbu said.

“There is no better way of having a five wicket haul than one that includes such top batsmen.”

And, the spinner, who went down on his knees and looked to the heavens after he ended the South African innings by luring JP Duminy into a reverse sweep that only ended in him depositing the ball into the hands of Brendan Taylor for 55, said this was all a team effort.

“Honestly, I didn’t even think about the five-for. I only wanted to play for my country,” he told Cricinfo.

“My team-mates helped me a lot as some bowlers were tiring, the seniors were supporting me and I’m happy that these guys can help me motivate like that. I have had to go out and get my fingers checked by the doc but I’m willing to go out and bowl again.”

He got a big hug from coach Steve Mangongo, who acknowledged the big job that Nyumbu had done in his marathon spell.

“We have not played a Test match in more than 10 months and I think we have acquitted ourselves well given that we are playing the best Test side in the world,” said Mangongo.

“But I am happy with the way the bowlers came in. Chatara and Panyangara really kept it tight and Nyumbu’s five-for could not have come at a better time. We aim to bat through the whole day tomorrow and it will be interesting to see South Africa chase on the final day as well.”

First, the Zimbabweans have to overhaul the 113-run deficit and it’s not easy on this pitch but, if they can show the same commitment and application they showed in the first innings, they could make this a very interesting duel.

Brief Scores:

Zimbabwe – First Innings 256 all out (Masakadza 45, Taylor 93, Steyn 5-46)

South Africa – First Innings 397 (Du Plessis 98, De Kock 81, Elgar 61, Nyumbu 5-157)

Zimbabwe – Second Innings 28-1 (Sibanda 8 not out, Tiripano 1 not out)