Bowlers give South Africa big win in historic four-day Test

The historic one-off, four-day Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth came to an end after only 907 balls with the home side coming away with an innings-and-120-run victory on Wednesday (December 27).

Following on after being bowled out for 68 in the first innings, Zimbabwe did better in its second stint with the bat, scoring nearly twice as much as it did in its first essay – 121. But it wasn’t enough to bring South Africa out to bat for the second time.

South Africa had declared after scoring 309 for 9 in 78.3 overs in their only innings and its bowlers ended the match before the scheduled dinner break on the second day.

While Morne Morkel, the beanpole paceman, was the chief wrecker in the first innings with figures of 5 for 21 in 11 overs, Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm spinner, bagged a fifer in the second innings. Andile Phehlukwayo, the debutant, had five wickets in the match after picking up two in the first innings and three in the second.

Starting the day on 30 for 4 in its second innings, Zimbabwe was in trouble from the start as Morkel ran through the top order in quick time. AB de Villiers, the stand-in skipper in the absence of Faf du Plessis, didn’t use much of the pace unit at his disposal in the second innings, perhaps saving them for when the lights came on, but they were not needed in the end.

At the start of the second innings, Zimbabwe showed some promise as Chamu Chibhabha and Hamilton Masakadza provided it with a solid start, sticking through a tough phase. Masakadza, who looked patient in scoring 13, was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the right elbow by a bouncer from Morkel, and Chibhabha fell to Kagiso Rabada with the total on 54.

Zimbabwe till got to 75 for 1 before the implosion began. It lost four wickets in 14 balls and the last nine wickets fell for 46 runs in just 15.4 overs.

While the win itself came as a boost for South Africa as it prepares for the series against India, the team lost Quinton de Kock to a hamstring injury while he was batting, and de Villiers kept wickets his place. De Kock is, however, expected to be fit for the first Test against India, starting in Cape Town on January 5.