SA record partnership downs Zimbabwe

After a good fight, Zimbabwe eventually lost their opening and third match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Hamilton by 62 runs against South Africa today.

David Miller was awarded the Man of the Match award for his unbeaten stormy innings of 138 runs with nine over boundaries.

Chamu Chibhabha and Hamilton Masakadza initially sailed their innings against South Africa's competitive 339 runs after opener Sikandar Raza departed as Vernon Philander bowled him out at his personal 5 runs.

Imran Tahir sent both Chibhabha and Masakadza to pavilion for 64 and 80 runs respectively.

Brendan Tailor, who seemed steady, departed with 40 runs off 40 deliveries. Morne Morkel picked his wicket.

Jean-Paul Duminy picked up Sean Williams at 4 runs.

Dale Steyn picked Craig Ervine at 13 runs while skipper Elton Chigumbura run out by AB de Villiers at 8 runs.

Lower-order Solomon Mire put on the final resistance, scoring 27 runs, but, Philander eventually picked him up.

Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara went out at 4 and 6 runs respectively by Tahir and Morkel.

Earlier, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field first.

Despite losing four top early wickets, South Africa managed to reach a competitive score as middle-order batsmen Miller and Jean-Paul Duminy showed their batting charismas, putting on a record partnership of 256 runs.

Miller went to the crease at third-down and scored 138 runs off 92 balls decorated with seven fours and nine sixes. Duminy joined him at the crease and sensibly assisted him with 115 runs off 100 deliveries.

Both of the batsmen remained not out.

Zimbabwean bowler Tendai Chatara brought the first breakthrough by picking up opener Quinton de Kock's wicket on the fourth over. Kock scored only 7 runs before giving away a catch to Craig Ervine.

Tinashe Panyangara bowled out another opener Hashim Amla on the ninth over at the batsman's 11 runs.

First down batsman Fuf du Plessis scored 24 runs before Elton Chigumbura sent him back to pavilion.

Tafadzwa Kamungozi took the wicket of Proteas skipper AB de Villiers who scored 25 runs.

While in danger, Miller and Duminy started showing their skills and sailed the South African innings to a sensible and competitive range of 339 runs.

South Africa

Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (capt), David Miller, JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir

Zimbabwe

Sikandar Raza, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (wk), Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Elton Chigumbura (capt), Solomon Mire, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara and Tafadzwa Kamungozi

FOLLOW FOR BALL-BY-BALL MATCH STATISTICS FROM ESPNCRICINFO