CENTURION (South Africa), March 11: Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut punished an injury-hit South African bowling attack as Zimbabwe staged a recovery on the first day of the second Test at Centurion Park Friday.

After being virtually down and out at 115 for seven, Zimbabwe reached a respectable total of 269 and kept South Africa in the field for most of the day. South Africa were 13 for no wicket at the close after facing three overs.

Streak made 85 and Blignaut hit a quick-fire 52. The pair, who only returned to the Zimbabwe side in time for last week’s first Test after almost out a year out of international cricket following a dispute which split the country’s cricket, put on 76 for the eighth wicket.

Streak and Graeme Cremer added another 73 for the ninth wicket, with Cremer defending grimly in an innings of 12.

The Zimbabweans were aided by the absence of three South African bowlers through injury while Streak and Blignaut launched their fightback. They were Zimbabwe’s last reliable batsmen after three wickets fell for no runs in 15 balls early in the afternoon.

But while Zimbabwe were running out of batsmen, South Africa were running out of bowlers. Soon after dismissing Elton Chigumbura, all-rounder Jacques Kallis left the field with a hip injury, joining Charl Langeveldt and Andre Nel in the dressing room.

Langeveldt did not take the field after lunch because of a back injury, while Nel spent most of the afternoon off the field with a hamstring strain.

Scoreboard

ZIMBABWE (1st Innings):

S. Matsikenyeri c Smith b Langeveldt 12

B.G. Rogers c Boucher b Nel 7

D.D. Ebrahim b Kallis 37

H. Masakadza c Smith b Zondeki 26

B.R.M. Taylor b Kallis 4

T. Taibu c Gibbs b Zondeki 14

E. Chigumbura c sub b Kallis 0

H.H. Streak b Kallis 85

A.M. Blignaut c Smith b Zondeki 52

A.G. Cremer c Boucher b Nel 12

C.B. Mpofu not out 1

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-8, W-4, NB-3) 19

TOTAL (all out, 85 overs) 269

FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-22, 3-71, 4-80, 5-115, 6-115, 7-115, 8-191, 9-264.

BOWLING: Nel 12-7-17-2 (3w); Zondeki 21-7-66-3 (1w); Langeveldt 5-1-19-1 (1nb); Kallis 13-4-33-4 (2nb); Smith 7-2-39-0; Boje 18-1-62-0; De Villiers 7-0-16-0; Rudolph 2-0-5-0.

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings):

A.B. de Villiers not out 9

G.C. Smith not out 3

EXTRAS (W-1) 1

TOTAL (for no loss, 3 overs) 13

TO BAT: J.A. Rudolph, J.H. Kallis, H.H. Gibbs, A.G. Prince, M.V. Boucher, N.Boje, M. Zondeki, C.K. Langeveldt, A. Nel.

BOWLING (to-date): Streak 2-0-3-0; Mpofu 1-0-10-0 (1w).

UMPIRES: D.J. Harper (Australia) and B. Doctrove (West Indies).

TV UMPIRE: I.L. Howell (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: A.G. Hurst (Australia).—Agencies