Without

Without Paul Strang, without Heath Streak,
Zimbabwe’s outlook clearly bleak.

Opener at Bloemfontein with Allan Donald raring,
He ceding to Shaun Pollock as the better of the pairing,
Home for Hansie Cronje, too, emotionally wearing,
Zimbabwe looked like buckling, before Guy Whittall’s daring.

Without Paul Strang, without Heath Streak,
The batting could not be so meek.

South Africa were solid but no batsman grabbed the nettle,
With Cronje showing local fans his attitude and mettle,
And Jonty Rhodes in flowing form and easy, languid fettle,
A lead of two two five wss built, and so the match was settled.

Without Paul Strang, without Heath Streak,
The bowling evidently weak.

Kallis rocked them early with his trademark swing and pace,
Pollock, metronomic, every ball in the same place,
While Donald had economy as granite solid base,
Paul Adams, of all people, could pop up and show his face.

Without Heath Streak, without Paul Strang,
With that Zimbabwe’s death knell rang.

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