Story by Raynald Ngwarati
THE Zimbabwe national men’s cricket team, The Chevrons have all to do on the third day of the first of two Test matches this Monday, after South Africa took control of the first two days of play at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
The World Test champions, South Africa, claimed the honours again in Day Two of the opening Test match against Zimbabwe as they stretched their lead to 216 runs following a Zimbabwean meltdown
Sean Williams’ sixth Test century was not enough to rescue Zimbabwe from a first innings collapse as seven batsmen failed to get past double figures for the Chevrons, three of which were sent packing without scoring.
Opener, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, and bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga all departed for ducks, as the Chevrons batting unit collapsed in dramatic fashion.
Wiaan Mulder was the pick of the South African attack, picking up four wickets, sharing 10 scalps with the pair of skipper Keshav Maharaj and Codi Yusuf as the Zimbabwean batsmen failed to find answers to stop the bowling unit.
Zimbabwe’s tail was cut on 251 runs, with Williams contributing more than half of those runs to save the Chevrons from a humiliating innings.
At stumps on Day two, South Africa were back at the crease, taking the opportunity to increase their lead to 216 runs with nine wickets in hand to put themselves in a comfortable position in their second innings.
South Africa will enter into day three on 49 runs for one after losing the wicket of Matthew Breetzke, giving Zimbabwe a near impossible ultimatum to wrap the Proteas tail before hell breaks loose.
Meanwhile, Chevrons opener Brian Bennett will play no further part in the ongoing Test match against South Africa at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo after being diagnosed with a mild concussion
He was struck on the helmet while attempting a hook shot off the final delivery of the sixth over bowled by Kwena Maphaka.
