Zimbabwe not prepared to roll over and play dead against Proteas

RIDGEBACKS are good at rolling over and playing dead, but not this Zimbabwe team.

The Proteas have been learning that lesson for two days in the one-off Test match in Harare. At stumps yesterday, Proteas were 201/4 in reply to the home side's first innings of 256. Having gone into the match with predictions of victory inside three days and by a crushing margin, the visitors now face the once impossible possibility of not earning a commanding lead.

The home side's batsmen refused to be intimidated by South Africa's firepower, and their bowlers have done a fine job of impersonating a Test attack. The truth is, they are as toothless as a geriatric ridgeback.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn's 5/46 gave him a five-wicket haul against all opponents, took him to 380 career wickets and put him above Malcolm Marshall on the all-time list.

Faf du Plessis, meanwhile, will resume this morning on 69 not out.

Du Plessis has faced 192 balls, 31 of them in going from 48 to 50 which he finally reached off 142 deliveries. Those would be admirable numbers if the Proteas were batting to save a match, but they are not easily explained on the second day of a game against a team not in the same class.

Significant blame must be laid on a pitch but there is no valid excuse for South Africa with experienced batting line-up failing to take the game to opponents they should dominate in any conditions.