The opening Test between Zimbabwe and South Africa at Queens Sports Club ended in a convincing victory for the Proteas, but there were shining moments from the hosts to cherish.
Zimbabwe batted first after losing the toss and mustered 251, thanks largely to a valiant 137 from Sean Williams. His century — only the sixth Test hundred by a Zimbabwean since 2020 — rescued the innings after early wickets. Bowling for South Africa, Wiaan Mulder impressed with 4 for 50, keeping Zimbabwe’s total respectable.
In reply, South Africa piled on runs to declare at 418 for 9. Their innings were dominated by debutants Lhuan‑dre Pretorius, batting at 19, who cracked a scintillating 153 to become the youngest South African centurion on debut. Corbin Bosch also made a maiden hundred, finishing unbeaten on 100, forging a critical lower‑order stand.
Zimbabwe’s second innings fared poorly, collapsing to 208 all out while chasing a monumental 537 for victory. The only bright spots were captain Craig Ervine’s gritty 49 and Wellington Masakadza’s 57, both produced in an 83‑run partnership that delayed the inevitable . Bosch starred for the tourists with a five‑wicket haul (5 for 43), combining to score a century and bag a five‑for in the same Test — a rare and impressive feat.
South Africa sealed a huge 328‑run victory on day four.
Despite the loss, there are reasons for cautious optimism. Williams’ century reaffirmed his status as a linchpin in Zimbabwe’s batting line‑up, while Ervine and Masakadza showed they can still resist strong opposition. The spirited partnership on day four, though short‑lived, hinted at a fighting mentality that Zimbabwe desperately needs.
However, this defeat also underlined persistent gaps — the lack of depth in both batting and bowling remains a serious concern. Their record at Bulawayo remains poor: only one Test win in 28 attempts. Zimbabwe must leverage upcoming Test opportunities, notably against New Zealand later this month, to build consistency.
In sum, while the result was disappointing, individual performances from hosts offered glimpses of resilience and potential, forming a platform for future growth in Zimbabwean cricket.
