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Kirsten, Gibbs pound Zimbabwe
South African opening batsman Gary Kirsten hit his third Test double century as the Zimbabwe bowlers took a pounding on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
South African opening batsman Gary
Kirsten hit his third Test double century as the Zimbabwe
bowlers took a pounding on the first day of the first Test
against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Kirsten made 202 not out as South Africa hammered 414
for one by close of play.
The tone of the day was set by Herschelle Gibbs, who made a glorious 147 in a first wicket stand of 256 with Kirsten.
But it was Kirsten who reeled in the records, becoming only the third player in history to make test centuries against eight different opponents, the first South African to make three double centuries and the first South African to reach 5,000 runs in Tests, a landmark he achieved when he was on 194. By completing a clean sweep of centuries against all the opponents South Africa have played, Kirsten joined India's Sachin Tendulkar and Australian captain Steve Waugh, who have punished eight opponents in the same fashion.
The opening stand was only four short of the South African all-time record of 260 set by Bruce Mitchell and Jack Siedle against England in Cape Town in 1930/31.
South Africa's run feast was their second most prolific in a single day, behind the 428 made against Australia in Johannesburg in 1902/03 when the match on the Old Wanderers ground was played on a matting pitch with a Gravel Outfield. Zimbabwe were made to pay for packing their side with batsmen and their bowling looked threadbare.
Bureau Report
The tone of the day was set by Herschelle Gibbs, who made a glorious 147 in a first wicket stand of 256 with Kirsten.
But it was Kirsten who reeled in the records, becoming only the third player in history to make test centuries against eight different opponents, the first South African to make three double centuries and the first South African to reach 5,000 runs in Tests, a landmark he achieved when he was on 194. By completing a clean sweep of centuries against all the opponents South Africa have played, Kirsten joined India's Sachin Tendulkar and Australian captain Steve Waugh, who have punished eight opponents in the same fashion.
The opening stand was only four short of the South African all-time record of 260 set by Bruce Mitchell and Jack Siedle against England in Cape Town in 1930/31.
South Africa's run feast was their second most prolific in a single day, behind the 428 made against Australia in Johannesburg in 1902/03 when the match on the Old Wanderers ground was played on a matting pitch with a Gravel Outfield. Zimbabwe were made to pay for packing their side with batsmen and their bowling looked threadbare.
Bureau Report