South Africa’s fast bowler Corbin Bosch secured a crucial breakthrough in the final over of day three of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Monday, ending stubborn resistance from the hosts’ opening batsmen.
Zimbabwe, facing a daunting target of 537 runs for victory, closed the day at 32 for one. Opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano was dismissed for a determined 12 runs off 62 balls, caught at third slip.
South Africa, captained by Keshav Maharaj for the first time in a Test, declared their second innings at 369 all out, more than half an hour after tea.
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder, batting at number three, was the star performer, scoring his second Test century and a personal best of 147 before being caught on the deep midwicket boundary.
Credit: Outlook India
Zimbabwe’s bowling attack was hampered by the illness of fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who was off the field for most of the morning. This left most of the bowling burden on the spinners, with left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza taking four wickets for 98 runs.
Leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa, who was expensive in the first innings against debutants Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis, dismissed both youngsters cheaply in the second innings.
Pretorius, who scored 153 in the first innings, was bowled for four, while Brevis added only three to his first innings 51.
With a minimum of 18 overs left to be bowled before stumps, South Africa managed to squeeze in an extra over due to the quick over rate maintained by Zimbabwe’s spinners, leading to Kaitano’s late dismissal.
