1st Test: SA's Tony de Zorzi slams 78 versus WI
South African batter Tony de Zorzi made his presence felt with an important knock of 78 in the opening Test versus West Indies at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad. A rain-hit Day 1 saw South Africa scored 45/1 after 15 overs. Day 2 resumed early and de Zorzi, who was unbeaten on 32, went to get a hard-working half-century. Here are further details.
De Zorzi adds two stands worth 43 runs each
De Zorzi got a crucial start on Day 1. He faced 52 balls and looked composed in the middle. He added 43 runs with Aiden Markram. On Day 2, de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs started well and kept the scoreboard moving. In the 25th over of SA's innings, de Zorzi got to his fifty. Stubbs was dismissed thereafter as the two added 43 runs.
De Zorzi and Bavuma work hard
After Stubbs' dismissal, de Zorzi and skipper Temba Bavuma added a 51-run stand. WI bowled well and the two stuck it out in the middle and worked hard. De Zorzi showed his appetite for runs by picking the loose balls in between. In the 50th over of SA's innings, de Zorzi was dismissed by Jomel Warrican. An attempted reverse sweep resulted in his dismissal.
De Zorzi slams his 2nd fifty in Tests
De Zorzi smashed two sixes and 7 fours. He faced 145 balls. Playing his fifth match in the longest format for SA, de Zorzi owns 223 runs at 27.87. He smashed his second fifty with both of these scores coming against West Indies. In three matches versus WI, de Zorzi owns 192 runs at 38.40. Notably, this is de Zorzi's maiden away encounter.
18th fifty in FC cricket for de Zorzi
As per ESPNcricinfo, playing his 68th First-Class match (109 innings), de Zorzi has raced to 3,652 runs at an average of 35-plus. In addition to 7 tons, he now has struck 18 fifties.
