Lhuan-dre Pretorius: It’s amazing. I don’t think it has sunk in yet. It was special scoring a ton after coming in at 22/3, it was a real dream come true. I was nervous when I came in but Wiaan calmed me down. We knew they only had two seamers and the plan was to take on their spinners and hit them out of the attack. (on when he knew he was debuting) It was real quick. I got a call a week ago, had a couple of nets and here I am. I love batting and it worked out for me. Glad that today is over. It’s a dream come true and for my family and my parents to be here, it makes it special.
Zimbabwe probably erred in their team selection as they picked just the two seamers and the leggie Masekesa was taken for plenty as he consistently overpitched and offered freebies. Once the early moisture dried out, the pitch became easier to bat on and South Africa through their inexperienced batters made full use of it. And they scored at such a good clip to make 418 at stumps. That’s it for day 1. We will be back nice and early tomorrow for day 2. Do join us then. We will leave you with this interview from the hero of the day for South Africa – Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Bye bye.
17:13 Local Time, 15:13 GMT, 20:43 IST: South Africa’s day. And by a long way. And what a turnaround from them. They were reduced to 23/3 after a fiery spell from Chivanga but it was a day for the newcomers. First the two debutants – Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis who added 95 to stabilise things. The former went on to make a sparkling ton on debut as he batted aggressively and was always on the lookout for runs. He finally fell to a short ball but not before making 153. Corbin Bosch was the other hero of the day, he was dropped early on when on 2 by Madande and he made the hosts pay for that. He was watchful early on but got the boundaries as the innings progressed, he was helped to his 100 by Codi Yusuf first and then by Kwena Maphaka who guided him through the 80s and 90s. Zimbabwe will be mighty disappointed at having let such a promising position slip even though it must be said the pitch became docile and friendly for batting.
Tanaka Chivanga to Kwena Maphaka, SIX, Kwena Maphaka ends the day on a high. It’s a short of length delivery and on off and middle, Kwena Maphaka thumps the pull as he goes on the back foot and nails it. It flies all the way too, over deep square-leg. That is some timing and both batters walk off to smiling faces inside in the South African camp. It will be stumps on day 1
Tanaka Chivanga to Kwena Maphaka, 2 runs, Kwena Maphaka wants runs. He doesn’t mind this being the last over of the day, he gives the charge and slashes this length delivery outside off, flies off a thick outside-edge and Masakadaza runs and slides to pull it back, saves two
Tanaka Chivanga round the wicket.
Tanaka Chivanga to Corbin Bosch, 1 run, maiden Test 100! Corbin Bosch roars as he pulls the short ball to deep backward square-leg, as soon as he hit that, he started celebrating, removes his helmet and then raises his bat to acknowledge the applause. The South African contingent are up and clapping on
Tanaka Chivanga to Corbin Bosch, 2 runs, tough chance and dropped by Tafadzwa Tsiga. A short delivery on the stumps, Corbin Bosch shuffles across inside the line, pulls and gloves it, Tsiga leaps but can only parry it over. Needed to stick but it doesn’t. Moves to 99. That was a close shave
Tanaka Chivanga to Corbin Bosch, no run, just over off and middle! The extra bounce takes it over the stumps. A back of a length delivery that nips back in and Corbin Bosch pulls and misses
Except a gully, the others are back on the fence.
Tanaka Chivanga to Corbin Bosch, no run, short of length on off, Corbin Bosch goes on the back foot and punches it to extra-cover who is halfway in from the fence
Muzarabani to Kwena Maphaka, no run, full just outside off, Kwena Maphaka gets forward to drive, thick inside-edge runs away through vacant mid-wicket, easy two but they don’t take it
Muzarabani to Kwena Maphaka, no run, big appeal for LBW but this is sliding down leg. Sharp nipbacker and Kwena Maphaka is rapped on the pads on leg-stump, with the angle it is missing leg-stump, good call from umpire Richard Illingworth
Muzarabani has been poor this over.
Muzarabani to Kwena Maphaka, no run, again down leg, length and Kwena Maphaka offers the leg, thuds into the thigh pad
Muzarabani to Kwena Maphaka, leg byes, FOUR, short of length and sliding down leg, Kwena Maphaka flicks and misses, off the thigh pad and it flies wide of Tafadzwa Tsiga for four
Kwena Maphaka and Corbin Bosch have a chat. A glove-tap between the two.
Muzarabani to Kwena Maphaka, no run, short and at the body of Kwena Maphaka, who wears one as it nips back in, hit near the ribs
Two slips, a gully and a deepish short-leg.
