“Obviously very good to get over the line. To see the character was very heartwarming,” stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj said as South Africa sealed their biggest Test win over Zimbabwe, triumphing by 328 runs in Bulawayo.
The display with the ball was very encouraging to see. No pressure—we know the talent within our systems. It was about getting them in the right frame of mind to execute, and they showed that throughout the four days.
Maharaj’s satisfaction was justified. Playing with only four survivors from their World Test Championship final side, South Africa’s young brigade demolished Zimbabwe to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The architects were Corbin Bosch — whose maiden Test five-for capped a match he dominated with bat and ball—and Wiaan Mulder, whose all-round brilliance never allowed Zimbabwe breathing space.
I’ve had my eye on Lhuan-dre since the SA20, and he hasn’t looked back in any format,” Maharaj added.
“He’s a mature young lad. To see how he goes about his business in pressure situations was very heartwarming. And then there’s Dewald Brevis—not many youngsters come into our system and express themselves the way he does. Wiaan, new position batting at three, to see him take that opportunity with both hands, I’m really happy for him. Bosch is new to the international scene, but he’s fit in like a glove. To see him conquer both facets in this Test match was really special.”
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine admitted his side got their selections wrong. “In hindsight, another seamer would’ve done us a few more favours in the first session after bowling first,” he said. “(Sean) Williams was exceptional. Nice, positive cricket. Disappointing that there was no one to support him to get us to a more respectable total.”
South Africa’s dominance began with the bat, debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius hammering 153 from 160 balls, supported by Brevis’s 51 and Bosch’s unbeaten 100 as they piled up 418 for 9 declared. When Zimbabwe replied with 251 — despite a fighting 137 from Williams — Mulder’s incisive 4 for 50 and Codi Yusuf’s 3 for 42 set the tone.
Their second innings was no less ruthless. Mulder added a classy 146, while Maharaj (51) and Bosch (36) extended the lead to a towering 537.
Zimbabwe’s response on the fourth morning was shattered almost immediately. Bosch, who’d removed Takudzwanashe Kaitano late on day three, struck again with a vicious short ball to dismiss Nick Welch. When Sean Williams perished for a breezy 26, slashing another Bosch bouncer to Kyle Verreynne, Zimbabwe’s hopes all but evaporated.
Even a spirited 83-run stand between Ervine and Wellington Masakadza—who reached his maiden Test fifty—only delayed the inevitable. Bosch returned to end the resistance, his sharp bouncer gloving Ervine to short leg. He bowled Vincent Masekesa to complete a memorable five-wicket haul, becoming just the fifth South African to score a Test century and take five wickets in the same match.
Masakadza’s fighting 57 ended when he gloved Bosch to the cordon, leaving Blessing Muzarabani to throw the bat. Muzarabani’s late sixes off Brevis and Maharaj offered entertainment but little hope. Brevis eventually closed the match, picking up his first Test wicket when Tanaka Chivanga was stumped charging down the track.
With this emphatic win, South Africa have claimed maximum World Test Championship points and signalled that their new generation is ready to carry the torch. The second Test begins July 6.
Brief Scores: South Africa 418/9 decl & 369; Zimbabwe 251 & 208 all out in 66.2 overs (Wellington Masakadza 57, Craig Ervine 49; Corbin Bosch 5-43, Codi Yusuf 3-22) South Africa won by 328 runs.
