Image: South Africa thrashed Zimbabwe in the first Test at Bulawayo / © ESPNCricinfo
As Day 4 of the 1st Test match between Zimbabwe and South Africa kicked off on July 1, 2025, at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe faced a near-impossible task. Chasing 537 runs to win, they started the day at 32/1 after 18.2 overs, with Prince Masvaure on 5. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Corbin Bosch’s fiery spell, tore through Zimbabwe’s batting, bowling them out for 208 in 66.2 overs. Despite a brave fight from Wellington Masakadza and Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe couldn’t hold off the Proteas, who sealed a massive 328-run victory.
The morning sun lit up Bulawayo, but Zimbabwe’s hopes were dim. They needed 505 more runs with nine wickets left, and survival seemed their best bet. South Africa, captained by Keshav Maharaj, were eager to wrap things up and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The pitch was decent for batting but still gave the bowlers enough to work with, and the Proteas were ready to pounce.
Zimbabwe began with Prince Masvaure, who was 5 off 54 balls, joined by Nick Welch after Takudzwanashe Kaitano’s dismissal for 12 off 62 balls late on Day 3, caught off Corbin Bosch. Welch didn’t last long, Bosch struck in the 18th over, getting him caught by Tony de Zorzi at slip for a duck off just one ball. Zimbabwe were 32/2, and the early wicket hurt. Bosch was bowling beautifully, his figures at 1/1 in 2 overs, using his pace and bounce to trouble the batters.
Sean Williams, Zimbabwe’s hero from the first innings with a brilliant 137, came in at No. 4 and looked to fight back. He raced to 26 off 18 balls, hitting 5 fours at a strike rate of 144.44. His shots through cover off Kwena Maphaka were pure class, and for a moment, it felt like Zimbabwe might dig in. But Bosch wasn’t done. In the 24th over, he got one to move away, and Williams edged it to keeper Kyle Verreynne. At 64/3, Zimbabwe were in deep trouble, losing their star batter.
Masvaure, playing cautiously, hung on but fell in the 28th over for 12 off 76 balls (1 four, strike rate 15.78), nicking Codi Yusuf to Wiaan Mulder at slip. Yusuf, making his Test debut, was superb, ending with 3/22 in 9 overs, economy 2.44. Wessly Madhevere followed, lasting 8 balls for a duck, caught by Verreynne off Yusuf in the 30th over. Tafadzwa Tsiga, the wicketkeeper, was out for a duck too, lasting 4 balls before Bosch took a sharp catch off Yusuf’s bowling in the 32nd over. At 82/6 after 32.2 overs, Zimbabwe were crumbling fast.
Craig Ervine, the captain, and Wellington Masakadza gave the home fans something to cheer about. Ervine batted with grit, scoring 49 off 77 balls (7 fours, strike rate 63.63), while Masakadza played a gutsy 57 off 92 balls (9 fours, strike rate 61.95). Their 83-run stand for the seventh wicket, over 20.2 overs at 4.11 runs per over, was Zimbabwe’s best moment. Ervine’s drives off Maharaj were smooth, and Masakadza’s punches off Maphaka kept the scoreboard moving. By lunch, Zimbabwe were 150/6 in 49 overs, with Ervine on 41 and Masakadza on 43, raising hopes of dragging the game out.
The duo added 50 runs in just 55 balls, with Masakadza reaching his fifty off 68 balls, including 8 fours. But South Africa hit back after lunch. Bosch returned in the 52nd over, getting Ervine caught by de Zorzi at slip for 49. His figures were now 3/43 in 12 overs, economy 3.58. Vincent Masekesa didn’t last, bowled by Bosch for 3 off 10 balls in the 56th over, leaving Zimbabwe at 173/8. Masakadza kept fighting but fell in the 59th over, caught by Mulder off Maharaj for 57. Maharaj bowled tightly, finishing with 1/71 in 24 overs, economy 2.95. Zimbabwe were 181/9, and the end was close.
Blessing Muzarabani, Zimbabwe’s fast bowler, swung hard, scoring an unbeaten 32 off 29 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes, strike rate 110.34). His big six off Maharaj and a lofted cover drive got the crowd cheering. Tanaka Chivanga, though, struggled, managing 1 off 22 balls at a strike rate of 4.54. In the 66th over, Dewald Brevis, another debutant, bowled a short ball. Chivanga charged, missed, and Verreynne stumped him easily. Brevis took his first Test wicket (1/22 in 4.2 overs), and Zimbabwe were all out for 208. South Africa had their victory. Bosch was the star, taking 5/43 in 12 overs, his first five-wicket haul in Tests. Yusuf’s 3/22 was brilliant, and Maharaj’s spin kept things tight. Maphaka went wicketless but bowled well (0/28 in 10 overs, economy 2.80).
South Africa’s win was built on their batting strength. On Day 1, Lhuan-dre Pretorius smashed 153, becoming the youngest South African to score a Test 150, while Bosch’s 100 not out took them to 418/9 declared. Wiaan Mulder’s 147 and Maharaj’s 51 in the second innings set a huge target of 537. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, like Wellington Masakadza (4/98), tried hard, but Blessing Muzarabani’s illness on Day 3 left them short.
Ervine admitted their batting needed bigger scores. South Africa’s bowlers, backed by sharp catches from de Zorzi and Verreynne, dominated. Zimbabwe’s 208 in 66.2 overs at 3.13 runs per over couldn’t match the Proteas’ intensity. The game ended by mid-afternoon, with South Africa not needing a fifth day.
Being awarded as the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, Corbin Bosch’s sensational five-wicket haul on Day 4 of the 1st Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on July 1, 2025, lit up South Africa’s 328-run victory. The young pacer was unstoppable, finishing with 5/43 in 12 overs, economy 3.58, on his Test debut. His fiery spell tore through Zimbabwe’s second innings as they crumbled to 208 in 66.2 overs, chasing 537. Bosch struck early, removing Takudzwanashe Kaitano (12 off 62) in the 18th over, caught by Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Moments later, he sent Nick Welch packing for a duck off one ball, caught by Tony de Zorzi. Sean Williams’ brisk 26 off 18 was cut short when Bosch found his edge, caught by Kyle Verreynne in the 24th over. The big wicket came in the 52nd over when captain Craig Ervine (49 off 77) nicked one to de Zorzi. Bosch sealed his maiden five-for by bowling Vincent Masekesa for 3 in the 56th over. His pace, bounce, and accuracy were too much for Zimbabwe, who lost 10 wickets in 66.2 overs. Bosch’s heroics, alongside his first-innings 100 not out, made him a standout, earning praise from captain Keshav Maharaj for his “mature” performance.
Getting the TCNI’s Hero of the Day Award for his brilliant bowling, Codi Yusuf shone brightly in Zimbabwe’s second innings during the 1st Test in Bulawayo on July 1, 2025. On his Test debut, the young South African pacer bowled with heart and skill, finishing with 3/22 in 9 overs, economy 2.44, helping South Africa to a 328-run victory. Zimbabwe, chasing 537, were bowled out for 208 in 66.2 overs, and Yusuf’s tight spell played a big part. He bowled three maiden overs, keeping the pressure on with his accurate line and length.
His first wicket came in the 28th over, removing Prince Masvaure for 12 off 76 balls, caught by Wiaan Mulder at slip. Two overs later, he trapped Wessly Madhevere for a duck off 8 balls, caught by keeper Kyle Verreynne. Yusuf’s third scalp was Tafadzwa Tsiga, also out for a duck off 4 balls, caught by Corbin Bosch in the 32nd over. His disciplined bowling broke Zimbabwe’s middle order, leaving them at 82/6. Yusuf’s hard work paid off, earning him praise from captain Keshav Maharaj for his control and fight. Alongside Bosch’s five-for, Yusuf’s efforts ensured South Africa’s dominance, proving he’s a star to watch.