BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe: South Africa needed a late partnership of 41 from tailenders Wayne Parnell and Kyle Abbott to reach 257 in the second one-day international against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
The South Africans were bowled out with two balls remaining in their 50 overs, giving Zimbabwe a decent chance of leveling the series at 1-1 on a tame pitch at Queens Sports Club.
Openers Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla put together a rapid opening partnership of 47 and No. 3 Faf du Plessis made 55 for his second straight half-century.
But Zimbabwe regularly took wickets with spinners Sean Williams, Prosper Uyseya and John Nyumbu all picking up two each.
The stand between Parnell and Abbott at the end was valuable for South Africa after it was under pressure at 211-7.
Nyumbu removed Amla for 15 and De Kock for 38 for his 2-44. AB de Villiers then fell to a bizarre run out when he set off for a run not knowing the ball had stopped at the feet of wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami, who picked it up and removed the bails. That left South Africa at 60-3.
Du Plessis and JP Duminy rebuilt with a 69-run stand for the fourth wicket and David Miller clubbed two big sixes before Zimbabwe was fortunate to dismiss him lbw for 45 off a delivery that appeared to be going well down the leg side.
Parnell hit two fours in his 24 from 27 balls and Abbott also struck two boundaries in his 23 from 26 deliveries to drag South Africa past 250 on a good batting strip. They were both caught in the outfield as the South Africans pushed for late runs.
South Africa leads the three-match series 1-0 after a 93-run win on Sunday.
