Easy games over, now for the real thing

Bring on the Aussies. The Proteas' romp to a 3-0 whitewash over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo yesterday will make South Africans bullish about the chances of AB de Villiers's team in the triangular series that starts in Harare on Monday.

SA, who won the first two games by 93 and 61 runs, surged to victory by seven wickets with 32.4 overs to spare yesterday. The result was never in doubt after Zimbabwe were dismissed for 165 in 39.5 overs, of which Elton Chigumbura made 90.

"We came here wanting to beat Zimbabwe 3-0, and the way we finished it off made me very happy," Faf du Plessis said.

Sadly for Zimbabweans, the home side have played poorly since they put up a decent fight in the one-off Test in Harare earlier this month. SA dominated from the first ball of the match - actually, the third, with which Kyle Abbott trapped Hamilton Masakadza in front - to the last, which JP Duminy smashed for six.

And that from a South African team without De Villiers, Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir. They were replaced by Rilee Rossouw, Mthokozisi Shezi and Marchant de Lange.

Chigumbura, who was promoted up the order yesterday after Brendan Taylor was dropped, spent 102 balls on his 50 and hammered the remaining 40 off 20. He was last out when he tried to heave De Lange over cow corner only to be deceived and bowled by a slower delivery.

Shezi, who made his debut, stuck out with figures of 1/8 from six overs. Batsmen were never sure whether they would receive a regular delivery, a slower ball, or something in between.

SA's other debutant, Rossouw, was run out off the first ball he faced by Malcolm Waller's brilliant dive and flick onto the stumps.

Quinton de Kock was a whirlwind of strokes and attacking intent and took SA to within 22 runs of victory before holing out for 84.

• The loss of Vernon Philander and Beuran Hendricks will be Kyle Abbott's and Mthokozisi Shezi's gain in the triangular series.

Philander and Hendricks have been ruled out with hamstring and back injuries and Abbott and Shezi have cracked the nod instead.

Also still in the mix is Rilee Rossouw - despite being run out off the first ball he faced in international cricket yesterday. Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel return as expected.