Proteas win toss, bat first in first Test vs Zimbabwe
The Proteas, with three Test debutants, have opted to bat first in the first of two Tests in Bulawayo.
Wiaan Mulder will bat at number three for the Proteas. Picture: Paul Harding/Gallo Images
The Proteas have elected to bat first in their first Test match against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday.
The South Africans named three Test debutants in Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis and Codi Yusuf. Also, Keshav Maharaj is playing his first Test match as captain. Regular captain Temba Bavuma misses the two-Test series due to a hamstring injury.
Teenager Kwena Maphaka leads the bowling attack for the first time as Lungi Ngidi will only rejoin the squad for the second Test.
It will be an important day for Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who will play his fourth match batting at the all-important number three position. He recorded scores of 15, five, six and 27 in his previous innings there.
Zimbabwe yet to beat Proteas in a Test
Zimbabwe have named an experienced team with 38-year-old Sean Williams featuring, and Craig Ervine, at 39, captaining the side. That, while rising batsman Brian Bennet, 21, gets another nod.
The Proteas have also identified pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani as one they need to watch out for.
This is South Africa's first tour of Zimbabwe since 2014. While Zimbabwe had a breakthrough Test win over Bangladesh in April, it was just one Test win out of three in the last 10 years (others vs Afghanistan in 2021 and Bangladesh in 2018).
Zimbabwe have never beaten South Africa in a Test match.
ALSO READ: Dewald Brevis makes emotional return to international cricket: 'It's special'
Teams
Proteas XI
Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj (c), Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka.
Zimbabwe XI
Brian Bennet, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Wesley Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
19 minutes ago
- IOL News
South African teen sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorius hits century on Test debut
Lhuan-dre Pretorius has arrived Lhuan-dre Pretorius, seen here in action for the Titans, scored a century on his Test debut for the Proteas in Bulawayo on Saturday. Photo: Nokwanda Zondi/BackpagePix Lhuan-dre Pretorius became the youngest South African to hit a Test century when he reached the mark on debut on the first day of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Saturday. The solidly-built left-hander, aged 19 years and 93 days, batted fearlessly after arriving at the crease with his team in trouble at 23 for three at Queens Sports Club. Pretorius hit a six off the fourth ball he faced, from left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza, then smiled broadly at batting partner Wiaan Mulder.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Golden Fireballs wary of late wobble despite perfect Telkom Netball League run
Owethu Ngubane of the Fireballs tries to get a shot off while Jamie van Wyk of the Jaguars tries to make the block during a tense Gauteng derby in TNL Power Week 2. The Fireballs are unbeaten so far in the country's premier netball competition. Image: Netball South Africa The Golden Fireballs have scorched through the first two rounds of the Telkom Netball League unbeaten, but know that they can't go off the boil in Power Week 3 if they are to win the title. The Joburg side, who have won all nine matches so far at Sun City in North West, were in a similarly strong position in the past two seasons of the country's premier netball competition. Under the mentorship of former Proteas and SA Under-21s coach Dr Elsje Jordaan, assisted by former Proteas skipper Bongi Msomi, they hope to finally add to their 2022 title. 'This is my fourth year with the Fireballs. We won it in 2022 when I just took over and they were actually a struggling team,' Jordaan told Independent Media Sport. 'In 2022 and 2023 we ended third. We lost in our semifinals by one and two goals respectively, so we just fell short. But actually we had a great run in 2022 and 2023 and ended top of the log, then just fell short in the semi-final, which was heartbreaking.' This year, the Fireballs have a perfect record of nine wins in nine games in Division 1 from the first two power weeks at Sun City, North West. They top the log with 18 points, four ahead of defending champions the Crinums, heading into Power Week 3 at the Durban ICC from July 14. 'Obviously you never go out and say it's going to be a perfect run but for now, having eight or nine wins for us is just massive and we're very excited about that,' Jordaan said. 'It's the first time in the history of the Fireballs that we managed to beat the Jaguars and the Crinums twice in a row, so it's big for us.' The Free State Crinums and Gauteng Jaguars boast the most TNL titles between them and are among the perennial favourites to lift the trophy. 'I though there were a couple of teams that actually pushed us quite hard. The first power week was extremely tough – we had to play eight games in seven days,' Jordaan admitted. 'And then when we came up against the Flames and the Aloes, they made us dig really deep. So we're looking forwards to playing them again in the third power week and seeing the growth in our systems.' The veteran coach credits their strong campaign so far to a blend of exciting young stars and senior players who have stepped up at key moments. 'Owethu 'Sammy' Ngubane, our captain Tanita van Dyk, who can play on both sides of the circle, attack or defence, have definitely put up their hands,' she said. 'I think Cornelia Mupenda has been great for us. She also won four Player-of-the-Match awards. Tarle Mathe is our engine in the middle. These senior players are leading by example at the moment.' Jordaan also praised the value of team unity off the court for the side based at Wits University. On the court the Fireballs play an adaptable, fast-paced game. The Golden Fireballs boast a blend of exciting young payers and veterans who have all stepped up in their unbeaten TNL 2025 campaign so far. Image: Netball South Africa 'In our circles we can easily play a holding circle or a moving circle. Then we're very versatile at the back,' she said. 'We've got great players, we've got height, we've got speed so that we can counter other teams' style of play. 'But the way the players are coming together, the belief in one another, the trust, that is just massive to watch. And then how they execute the game plan is really important.' The Fireballs mentor is all too aware that a loss of focus or intensity in the final stage could still see them end the season empty-handed. She will be keen to keep her charges grounded heading to Durban. 'For us there's still three pool games, and it's important that we keep the winning momentum,' she said. 'Often they say losing is a culture, but winning is also a culture. You need to know how to win, you need to know how to close games, and that's what we're going to try keep doing.' The Fireballs' title charge has been boosted by a clean bill of health. TNL Power Week 3 runs from July 14 to 20 at the Durban ICC.
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Proteas rocked by Zimbabwean seamers in Bulawayo
Zimbabwe stunned neighbours South Africa on the first morning of the opening Test in Bulawayo, picking up four wickets to claim the ascendancy at lunch. The newly crowned World Test champions were 90/4 at the interval, with Zimbabwe's two seamers Tanaka Chivanga and Blessing Muzarabani dominating the Proteas batters. Debutants Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis will resume after the break, with the former, who counterattacked superbly, on 44 and Brevis, who looked tense, on 10. Zimbabwe's captain Craig Ervine wasn't displeased when Keshav Maharaj won the toss and chose to bat. The Proteas stand-in skipper felt there would be assistance for the seamers in the first hour, but that his side — containing three debutants and missing seven players who won the Test mace at Lord's — could make progress once the surface dried and the ball softened. But it was soon clear why Ervine was so relaxed about bowling, with Muzarabani, extracting movement and prodigious bounce to trouble both of the SA openers. Tony de Zorzi was lucky to survive the first over, and was dropped by Sean Williams off the fourth ball of the match at second slip. But the 23 minutes De Zorzi spent at the crease made for painful viewing. He struggled against the steepling bounce from Muzarabani and when Zimbabwe eventually switched to Chivanga after two overs from spinner Wellington Masakadza, they finally gained reward. An edge, off the 16th ball De Zorzi faced, was taken at third slip by Brian Bennett and from there the hosts dominated the rest of the first hour. Matthew Breetzke, after making a first ball duck on debut in Bangladesh last year, would have been thrilled to get off the mark in Test cricket, but having played one lovely cover drive, then also edged Chivanga to Bennett after scoring 13. David Bedingham lasted just three balls, and like Breetzke was undone by the extra bounce from Chivanga, edging to first slip where Ervine took a comfortable catch. Pretorius arrived at the crease, and almost immediately changed the momentum of the SA innings, charging down the wicket to Masakadza and smashing his fourth ball for six over long-off. His next delivery he thumped through the covers for four and Zimbabwe were forced on the defensive by the teenager. A partnership of 32 with Wiaan Mulder provided some respite, but then Mulder, who was looking comfortable in what was just his fifth innings in the no.3 spot was stupidly run out by Muzarabani for 17. He hesitated when called through for a single by Pretorius, for what was a risky single given the circumstances of the SA innings. However the lanky Muzarabani also deserves credit for reaching the ball quickly in his follow-through and then accurately throwing down the stumps. Brevis' first runs were fortuitous — an inside edge past the stumps against Masakadza, but he, like his provincial teammate Pretorius, looked to take the attack to the Zimbabweans. Pretorius was the beneficiary of good fortune on 30, when an edge that was clearly audible on the stump mic wasn't heard by umpire Richard Illingworth, much to the chagrin of the Zimbaweans. One of the fielders could clearly be heard telling Pretorius that he has 'to walk for those,' but the youngster was unmoved and even shared his own thoughts with the opposition. Because of costs, Zimbabwe Cricket hasn't been able to install the technology needed for the Decision Review System. The hosts will also regret not picking a third seamer, having seen how much assistance there was for Muzarabani and Chivanga.
