South Africa won the second Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe by an innings and 236 runs at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. They now lead the series 0-2 after winning the first game at the same venue by a whopping 328 runs.
The visitors started the third day of the series off brightly with the ball. Zimbabwe began Day 3 with an overnight total of 51/1 in 16 overs but scored only 13 runs in their first seven overs. Codi Yusuf, in particular, appeared fairly dangerous as he led the Proteas speed attack. Senuran Muthusamy took the first wicket of the evening with his first over of the innings. Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who was on track for his second Test fifty, had to walk back for 40 off 76.
Muthusamy’s left-arm spin was almost about to produce another wicket with the opening ball of his third over. However, David Bedingham at backward point created an opening that resulted in a few runs being scored. It was the same over in which Nick Welch hit the opening six runs for the hosts. Sean Williams, who had battled alone in the first innings, was bowled for 11 by a Wiaan Mulder delivery.
There wasn’t much action after that until Lunch was called. Nick Welch, who had a forgettable series, scoring only 14 runs in the previous three innings, reached the half-century mark three overs before the morning session ended. However, he was unable to offer anything noteworthy following the break. Muthusamy dismissed Welch (55 off 126), with the visiting captain barely moving from first slip.
Muthusamy could have gotten his third wicket of the innings off Wessly. Madhevere had substitute fielder Zubayr Hamza hold onto a difficult opportunity at midfield. Hamza didn’t have to feel bad about the missed opportunity because Madhevere was pinned well in front in the following over.
After Zimbabwe lost their fifth wicket, wicketkeeper-batsman Tafadzwa Tsiga came out.
Lesego Senokwane, who was bowled for a 36-ball three early on the opening day of play, had reason to celebrate after catching Tsiga for just one run in 20 deliveries. Craig Ervine was four runs short of fifty at the end of Zimbabwe’s 59th over. After five overs, Ervine’s score remained 49.
Corbin Bosch, who had struck with the last Zimbabwean batter to fall on Day 2, caught him off the keeper, forcing the Zimbabwean skipper to quit one shy of his fifty after facing 49 deliveries. The bowler struck again after three more deliveries, dismissing Kundai Matigimu. The off stump was sent flying, with the Proteas only a few wickets away from victory.
Bosch’s fourth wicket came in the form of Blessing Muzarabani, who fell for an 11-ball duck. Senokwane made his second catch of the match, this time at third slip. The final-wicket stand between Wellington Masakadza (17* off 62) and Tanaka Chivanga (22 off 26) lasted a while and added 36 to the scoreboard before the latter was dismissed by Muthusamy on the third delivery of the 78th over.
India
