Friday 26 / April / 2024
Port Elizabeth: Zimbabwe were bowled out twice on Wednesday as South Africa swept to an easy victory by an innings and 120 runs as the inaugural four-day Test finished inside two days at St George's Park.
Zimbabwe were dismissed for 68 runs in their first innings and then 121 in their follow-on in reply to South Africa's 309 for nine declared.
The one-off Test ended inside five sessions as the gulf in ability between the two neighbours was cruelly exposed.
Morne Morkel was the destroyer-in-chief in Zimbabwe's first innings with figures of five for 21, as nightwatchman Kyle Jarvis top scored with 23 off 50 balls. Debutant Ryan Burl, who added 16, was the only other Zimbabwean batsman to get to double figures.
Zimbabwe, who are bottom of the 10-team Test rankings, started the second day reeling on 30 for four after being put into bat for the last hour of the first day of the first day-night test played in South Africa and struggled with the pink ball in unfamiliar conditions.
They did show some resistance at the start of their second innings but once their first wicket fell on 51, when Chamu Chibhabha was caught behind, there followed a steady procession of batsmen to the crease as Keshav Maharaj took five for 59 and Andile Phehlukwayo returned figures of three for 13.
All Zimbabwe's second innings wickets fell in a single session between the tea and dinner break. Craig Ervine was their top second innings scorer with 23 runs.
"I don't think we were overwhelmed but it was a surprise to us to see the ball move around like that. We didn't assess conditions that well," said visiting captain Graeme Cremer.
"This shows us where we are and where we need to be."
South Africa won the toss and batted first on Tuesday with Aiden Markram scoring 125 and AB de Villiers 53 on his return to the Test arena after a hiatus of almost two years.
"The bowlers were exceptional on a very spicy wicket but we still needed to do the basics well and we didn't miss our mark very often," said De Villiers.
The four-day Test is the first since the International Cricket Council tweaked regulations to give some of the weaker nations a more sporting chance, in the wake of Afghanistan and Ireland being granted Test status.
The one-off game against Zimbabwe was also supposed to provide the home team with preparation for their three-Test series against top ranked side India, which begins next week.
But it was much more of a one-sided contest than originally expected and will have provided neither side with any meaningful experience.
Scoreboard
South Africa 1st innings: 309 for 9 decl
(A. Markram 125, AB de Villiers 53)
Zimbabwe 1st innings
H. Masakadza lbw M. Morkel 0
C. Chibhabha c Bavuma b M. Morkel 6
C. Ervine lbw Philander 4
B. Taylor c de Villiers b M. Morkel 0
R. Burl b M. Morkel 16
K. Jarvis c de Villiers b Phehlukwayo 23
S. Raza c de Villiers b M. Morkel 0
P. Moor b Phehlukwayo 9
G. Cremer c de Villiers b Rabada 2
C. Mpofu c Bavuma b Rabada 0
B. Muzarabani (not out) 4
Extras (lb-2, nb-2) 4
Total (all out, 30.1 overs) 68
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-11, 3-11, 4-14, 5-36, 6-36, 7-55, 8-63, 9-63.
Bowling: M. Morkel 11-5-21-5; V. Philander 10-4-21-1; K. Rabada 6.1-2-12-2 (nb-2); A. Phehlukwayo 3-0-12-2.
Zimbabwe 2nd innings
C. Chibhabha c de Villiers b Rabada 15
H. Masakadza c de Villiers b Maharaj 13
C. Ervine lbw Phehlukwayo 23
B. Taylor c Amla b Maharaj 16
R. Burl c de Villiers b Phehlukwayo 0
S. Raza c Phehlukwayo b Maharaj 5
P. Moor c de Villiers b Phehlukwayo 1
G. Cremer (not out) 18
K. Jarvis b Philander 5
C. Mpofu b Maharaj 0
B. Muzarabani b Maharaj 10
Extras (b-8, lb-7) 15
Total (all out, 42.3 overs) 121
Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-75, 3-75, 4-80, 5-80, 6-87, 7-91, 8-98, 9-103.
Bowling: M. Morkel 4-0-12-0; V. Philander 7-3-10-1; K. Maharaj 17.3-5-59-5; K. Rabada 7-3-12-1; A. Phehlukwayo 7-2-13-3.
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough, Paul Reiffel
TV umpire: Michael Gough
Match referee: Chris Broad
