Boeta Dippenaar celebrated his 100th appearance for South Africa on Friday with a match-winning undefeated 85 to help South Africa to a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the opener of a three-match series.
Dippenaar carried his bat throughout South Africa's innings, hitting five fours off 127 balls, and striking the winning runs after 195 minutes at the crease.
"I sit with the tag that I bat too slowly," he said, "but in games like today's, it was important that I stick around till the end."
Dippenaar rallied South Africa after the top order crumbled to 33 for three.
Debutante Loots Bosman was the first to go when he played around a delivery from Ed Rainsford to be bowled for five. Herschelle Gibbs was next when he slapped a very wide ball from Tawanda Mupariwa straight to extra cover to be caught for two, and Jacques Kallis edged Anthony Ireland to the wicketkeeper for four.
Dippenaar paired with J.P. Duminy, who hit 60 with seven fours off 70 balls, for a fourth-wicket stand of 121. Duminy eventually was stumped off the bowling of Stuart Matsikenyeri.
For Zimbabwe, Vusi Sibanda top-scored with 51 as the visitors reached 201 for seven. He saw off opening bowlers Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini before he started attacking. He hit eight boundaries in 78 balls before he mistimed a pull off Andre Nel and was caught by Pollock at mid-off.
Zimbabwe reached 137 for two by the start of the 34th over, but then began to lose wickets at regular intervals.
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