Beating our big brothers is the best, beams hero (30 May 1999 )

30 May 1999

Beating our big brothers is the best, beams hero

BONNY SCHOONAKKER Chelmsford

"THIS was number one, it was the best," Zimbabwean allrounder Neil Johnson said of the game in which he played a major role in embarrassing South Africa.

"It was unbelievable for us to play against our big brothers like that and beat them," said man-of-the-match Johnson, who took three wickets for 27 runs and scored 76 runs.

"They got a fright and now they know we're no longer the minnows of the World Cup," said Johnson, a former Natal and Eastern Province cricketer who was turned down for selection by South Africa and whose new national team started this tournament as 66-1 outsiders.

Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell said his team had not decided on any particular strategy to beat the favourites before the match. "We said we are just going to enjoy ourselves and whatever happens will happen."

Campbell said the upset result would do wonders for his coach David Houghton's campaign to win greater recognition for Zimbabwe, adding that "thanks to a good tobacco crop" in Zimbabwe this year, his team could now look forward to more supporters turning out for their remaining matches.

South African coach Bob Woolmer said his side had lost because they played badly. "We batted badly, our fielding was OK, but our bowling was poor. But I am pleased that it happened now, not in a semifinal."

Asked if he had any regrets about Johnson not having been selected to play for South Africa, Woolmer said that Johnson's name had been mentioned over the years but he was never able to mix it with the likes of Klusener and Kallis.