South Africa building big lead

South Africa are well on the way to amassing a big lead over Zimbabwe in the First Test at Goodyear (formerly Springbok) Park, Bloemfontein. After two days, South Africa are 253 for 4 in their first innings in reply to Zimbabwe's 192 all out.

With South Africa resuming their first innings on Saturday morning on 29 for nought, Test debutant Boeta Dippenaar was the first dismissal of the day, trapped lbw by Henry Olonga for 20. Olonga and Mbangwa kept runs to a premium in the first hour. Adam Bacher had advanced his score to 42 when he pushed an Mbangwa delivery to Goodwin at point. Jacques Kallis had scored three runs from his first 45 balls faced when he trebled his score in one Bryan Strang over. Kallis played the anchor while Darryl Cullinan found the Zimbabwean attack easier to despatch. At lunch South Africa were 116/2, Cullinan (24*) already ahead of Kallis (20*).

Cullinan (27) was dismissed shortly after lunch when Grant Flower took a brilliant diving catch behind point off the bowling of Guy Whittall. Kallis and Cronje batted through the remainder of the afternoon session to go to tea at 183 for 3. Most of the session was unspectacular going, though Cronje did find the time to score seven boundaries out of his 34 runs, and to become South Africa's leading all-time run scorer in Tests.

Kallis reached his half-century shortly after tea having faced 175 deliveries. At 64 he was beaten by Guy Whittall and trapped lbw. With Jonty Rhodes joining his captain at the crease, South Africa ended the day at 253 for 4 when bad light stopped play twelve minutes early (and whatever did happen to that playing condition allowing the switching on of floodlights to enhance failing daylight?). Cronje took his score to 60 for the innings, and 3525 for his career. Rhodes' 24 not out included the only six of the match to date, swinging Bryan Strang over mid-wicket.

Whittall (2/38) was the most successful of the Zimbabwean bowlers, though Pommy Mbangwa was tidy in bowling 22 overs for 1/37.