South Africa Cruise To Warm Up Win

Smith's 69 followed scores of 58 and 45 and its pace ensured the South Africans secured a bonus point to finish top of the table going into the final against England.

He and fellow left-hander Jacques Rudolph came together at eight for two, after Douglas Hondo gave Zimbabwe early hope, to share in a stand of 137 in 25 overs.

Herschelle Gibbs' poor trot in this triangular tournament - an unbeaten 93 at Cardiff last week aside - continued when he chopped the seamer into his stumps and Martin van Jaarsveld followed to a spectacular one-handed diving catch by wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu.

Smith struck 10 fours in all, some fortuitously over the slips, before slicing Travis Friend to point, as he and Rudolph played freely in pursuit of a modest total.

Rudolph got to his landmark at a more sedate pace, from his 75th delivery, and finished unbeaten on 69 as the Proteas surpassed their opponents' 173 for eight with nearly 15 overs to spare.

Makhaya Ntini claimed four wickets earlier as Zimbabwe's struggles with the bat continued.

He sliced through a Zimbabwean top order which has fallen away twice already in the past week, against South Africa at Cardiff where they struggled to 174 for eight and England at Bristol where they were shot out for a paltry 92.

Ntini's initial burst left the Zimbabweans on 49 for four in the 12th over and in need of crease occupation to guarantee a competitive total.

Once again it was captain Heath Streak who came up with the required response, reaching his half-century in the final over of the innings.

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