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Corbin Bosch’s maiden five-for and century led South Africa to a 328-run victory over Zimbabwe in the primary Test.
Corbin Bosch finished with a five-for in Zimbabwe’s second innings (Picture credit: AFP)
All-rounder Corbin Bosch took a primary five-for in Tests to go along with his maiden hundred as a much-changed South Africa thumped hosts Zimbabwe by 328 runs on day 4 of the primary Test in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Set an enormous goal of 537 for a win against South Africa, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 208 within the afternoon session as Bosch, who finished 100* within the visitors’ first innings, took 5/43 and debutant seamer Codi Yusuf chipped in with 3/22.
Wellington Masakadza top-scored for the hosts with 57, and skipper Craig Ervine managed 49, but for the remaining, it was a procession of wickets after Zimbabwe began the day on 32/1.
South Africa fielded just 4 of the cricketers who beat Australia within the WTC final on the Lord’s in June.
The second and final game within the series shall be played on the Queens Sports Club and begins on Sunday, July 6.
“Bosch is latest to the international scene, but he’s slot in well. To see him conquer each facets (bat and ball) on this test was special,” stand-in South Africa skipper Keshav Maharaj said on the post-match presentation.
“We all know the talent inside our system. It was getting them in the correct mind set to execute, they usually showed that throughout the 4 days.”
Zimbabwe were under pressure on the fourth morning when Nick Welch was caught off the primary delivery of the day by short-leg Tony de Zorzi from the bowling of Bosch for a golden duck.
The latter then claimed the prized wicket of Sean Williams, who made an excellent 137 in Zimbabwe’s first innings, because the batter skied a top edge to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne for 26.
Ervine and Masakadza provided some resistance with a partnership of 83 for the seventh wicket, but when the previous was caught from a superb diving effort from De Zorzi off the bowling of Bosch, South Africa mopped up the tail.
The sport finished with a primary Test wicket for part-time leg-spinner Dewald Brevis, who had Tanaka Chivanga stumped by Verreynne.
“From a batting perspective, a number of guys got starts, including myself, but we’d like to go on and get 100s, 30s, and 40s won’t cut it at this level,” Ervine said.
He added the team will monitor opening batter Brian Bennett ahead of the second test after he was struck on the helmet in Zimbabwe’s first innings and suffered a concussion.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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