Second-string South Africa complete routine Test win over Zimbabwe

BSS
Published On: 08 Jul 2025, 19:43

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, July 8, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - South Africa completed a comprehensive win by an innings and 236 runs after Zimbabwe collapsed after lunch on the third day of the second Test at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.

Fast bowlers Corbin Bosch (four for 38) and Codi Yusuf (two for 38), together with left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy (three for 77) were mainly responsible for bowling out Zimbabwe for 220 in the second innings.

Despite fielding what was effectively a second-string team, South Africa were in control of the match from the start as stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder's South African record 367 not out led them to a total of 626 for five declared.

Zimbabwe provided resistance in losing only two wickets before lunch on Tuesday after resuming on 51 for one.

Nick Welch made 55 and captain Craig Ervine scored 49 after the early dismissal of overnight batsman Takudzwanashe Kaitano (40).

But Zimbabwe collapsed after the interval against the pace bowling of Yusuf and Bosch. Six wickets fell for 31 runs before Wellington Masakadza and Tanaka Chivanga added 36 for the last wicket.

It was the 10th successive Test win for world champions South Africa, one more than their previous most successful streak between 2001 and 2003.

South Africa, who won the first Test at the same venue by 328 runs, completed a dominant 2-0 series win despite resting most of the players who won the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's in London last month.

Zimbabwe were without two leading batsmen in Brian Bennett, who was concussed in the first Test, and Ben Curran, who missed the series with a broken hand.

But Mulder and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne were the only players who featured in South Africa's win against Australia.

The world champions introduced five debutants over the two matches but still outclassed their neighbours.

Zimbabwe and South Africa meet again in Harare on Monday at the start of a T20 triangular series which also includes New Zealand.

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