South Africa began their red-ball journey in Zimbabwe with a dominant victory, crushing the home team by 328 runs in the first Test match at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Without their regular skipper Temba Bavuma, the team was led by spin all-rounder Keshav Maharaj, who guided the visitors to a commanding win in his very first Test as captain.
The match was filled with exciting moments, strong comebacks, and memorable performances. Debutants Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch shone brightly with centuries, while Maharaj and Bosch also delivered key spells with the ball. With this emphatic victory, South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series, setting the tone for the remainder of the tour.
Maharaj Leads South Africa with Confidence
Keshav Maharaj stepped up as the leader in the absence of Temba Bavuma. His decisions on the field, aggressive tactics, and personal performance with both bat and ball were key factors behind South Africa win. Maharaj contributed 21 and 51 runs in the two innings and took four crucial wickets. His energy and guidance boosted the team morale throughout the Test.
This performance shows Maharaj maturity and his ability to handle pressure on the international stage. His smart field placements and bowling changes made life difficult for Zimbabwe batters, especially on a pitch that slowly turned as the game progressed.
Early Collapse and Strong Comeback
South Africa started their first innings on a shaky note after losing three wickets for just 23 runs. The top order struggled to face Zimbabwe pace attack. But the debutants turned the tide in spectacular fashion. Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius stood firm and began to build a solid partnership that steadied the innings.
Pretorius showed great maturity and confidence, hitting clean strokes all around the park. His footwork against both pace and spin looked solid, and he showed excellent temperament under pressure.
Pretorius Scores a Memorable 153
The biggest talking point of the first innings was Lhuan-dre Pretorius superb 153-run knock. Playing his debut match, he displayed the skills of a seasoned player. He timed the ball well, played straight, and rotated the strike smartly. Pretorius not only saved his team from an early collapse but also dominated the Zimbabwe bowling attack.
This brilliant innings earned him the Player of the Match award. His calm approach and confident shot selection helped South Africa post a strong total in the first innings. He is definitely one of the names to watch out for in the future.
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Bosch Stars with Bat and Ball
Corbin Bosch made a dream debut as well. He scored a match-winning century in the first innings and later backed it up with five wickets in the second innings. His unbeaten knock in the lower order gave South Africa the boost they needed to declare at 418/9.
Bosch showed his all-round skills throughout the match. With the ball, he bowled with good rhythm, used seam movement well, and took key wickets at important moments. He became a complete match-winner and a future asset for South Africa Test side.
Zimbabwe Fightback Led by Sean Williams
Zimbabwe tried to respond strongly in their first innings. The only batter who put up a serious fight was Sean Williams. He played a brave knock of 137 runs and tried to keep Zimbabwe in the contest. His innings was full of patience, shot selection, and fine timing.
However, none of the other Zimbabwe batters supported him well. The rest of the team collapsed against South Africa bowlers. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 251, giving the visitors a first-innings lead of 167 runs.
South Africa Second Innings Dominance
In the second innings, South Africa continued their domination. They declared their innings at 369, thanks to a classy century by Wiaan Mulder who scored 147 runs. The team batted with purpose, rotated the strike well, and punished loose deliveries.
Zimbabwe bowlers looked tired and out of ideas. They failed to create pressure or break partnerships. Maharaj and the coaching staff decided to declare the innings and give their bowlers enough time to bowl out Zimbabwe for a second time.
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Zimbabwe Collapse in the Final Innings
Chasing a huge target of 537 runs, Zimbabwe never looked in control. Their top order crumbled early, and they lost six wickets for just 82 runs. Only Craig Ervine (49) and Wellington Masakadza (57) showed some resistance in the middle order.
But that was not enough. Bosch and Codi Yusuf ripped through the batting order. Bosch took five wickets, while Yusuf claimed three. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 208, giving South Africa a massive 328-run victory.
ICC World Test Championship Standings After ZIM vs SA Test
Although this Test series is not part of the current ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, the result caught fans attention. South Africa have not yet started their WTC campaign, but this performance will surely boost their confidence ahead of tougher challenges.
The current WTC standings after the recent matches are as follows:
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Points | PCT (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100.00 |
| 2 | England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100.00 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 66.67 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 16.67 |
| 5 | India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 6 | West Indies | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 7 | New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 9 | South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
South Africa will start their WTC campaign later, but this win gives them perfect momentum for the future.
Key Takeaways from the Match
This Test match gave South Africa a lot of positives. The rise of new players like Pretorius and Bosch is a big win for team selectors. Maharaj proved his captaincy skills, and the team performed as a unit.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, needs to find more consistency in both batting and bowling. Sean Williams performance was the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing match for the home side.
Road Ahead for Both Teams
South Africa will be full of confidence going into the second Test. They may stick with the same playing XI as every player contributed in some way. Zimbabwe will need to regroup and make key changes to improve their performance.
The second Test of the series will be an opportunity for Zimbabwe to bounce back and for South Africa to complete a clean sweep.
FAQs
Who was the captain of South Africa in the Bulawayo Test against Zimbabwe?
Keshav Maharaj was the captain of South Africa in the first Test against Zimbabwe. He replaced Temba Bavuma for this series.
Who scored the highest runs for South Africa in the first Test?
Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored the highest runs for South Africa in the first innings with a superb 153 on debut.
How many wickets did Corbin Bosch take in the match?
Corbin Bosch took a total of five wickets in the second innings and also scored an unbeaten century in the first innings.
Is this Test series part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27?
No, the South Africa vs Zimbabwe Test series is not part of the ICC WTC 2025-27 cycle, so it does not affect the WTC standings.
What was the margin of South Africa victory in the first Test?
South Africa won the first Test match by 328 runs, which is a huge margin in Test cricket.
