Corbin Bosch played alongside a fifer as South Africa delivered the most significant Test defeat to Zimbabwe, winning by 328 runs on Tuesday (July 1). In pursuit of a daunting target of 537 for victory, the home team faltered to 82/6 during the morning session before experiencing a short-lived recovery. Nevertheless, Bosch (5-43) and Codi Yusuf (3-22) secured a swift conclusion by dismissing Zimbabwe’s second innings for a mere 208.
Corbin Bosch's fifer overshadow's Zimbabwe's batting
Resuming from the overnight score of 32/1, Zimbabwe experienced a disappointing beginning to Day 4 when Bosch, continuing his unfinished over, struck on the very first ball, resulting in Nick Welch receiving a golden duck. This brought Sean Williams to the crease, who commenced with consecutive boundaries to conclude the over, and then proceeded to replicate this feat in Bosch’s subsequent over.
However, Bosch soon exacted his revenge. The centurion from the first innings, Williams attempted a swipe and ended up skying an edge, allowing the keeper to dismiss him for a promising 26 off just 18 deliveries. Yusuf also made an impact with his first ball of the day, ending the vigil of Prince Masvaure, who edged the ball to second slip and returned after a patient 12 off 76. In his next two overs, Yusuf dismissed Wessly Madhevere and Tafadzwa Tsiga for ducks, reducing the home team to 82/6 and capping off the middle-order collapse.
Craig Ervine then partnered with Wellington Masakadza to avert further damage before Lunch. The duo collectively added 83 runs for the seventh wicket partnership, delaying the inevitable by keeping the visitors at bay for 20 overs. However, once the partnership was broken, it did not take long for Zimbabwe to capitulate.
Zimbabwe's counter attack before the all out
Following lunch, Masakadza struck Bosch for four runs past gully, achieving his first Test fifty – his prior highest Test score was 17 – which seemed to exacerbate South Africa’s woes. However, when Bosch had Ervine caught by de Zorzi, it initiated yet another collapse. Masekesa and Masakadza soon followed, but South Africa faced further frustration.
Having been dropped on 10, Masakadza surpassed his partner to reach a half-century, while Ervine fell just one run short of his own as Bosch claimed his fourth wicket of the innings, breaking the resilient partnership. After scoring a century in the first innings, the allrounder concluded with a five-wicket haul in the second, as Vincent Masekesa dragged an inside edge onto his stumps, leaving the home team in a precarious position at 173/8.
Although the situation appeared dire for the home side, Blessing Muzarabani opted to launch a counterattack before their defeat. He hit 4, 4, and 6 off Dewald Brevis, and then greeted Maharaj with a six and a four in the same over. Nevertheless, Brevis changed ends and had his teammate, Tanaka Chivanga, stumped, restricting Zimbabwe to a total of just 208 for a decisive victory within four days in Bulawayo.
SCORECARD: South Africa 418/9 decl (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 153, Corbin Bosch 100*; Tanaka Chivanga 4-83) & 369 (Wiaan Mulder 147, Keshav Maharaj 51; Wellington Masakadza 4-98) beat Zimbabwe 251 (Sean Williams 137; Wiaan Mulder 4-50) & 208 (Wellington Masakadza 57, Craig Ervine 49; Corbin Bosch 5-43) by 328 runs.
