ZIM vs SA 2025 First Test, Day 1: Tons from Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Corbin Bosch help South Africa finish strong

South Africa ended Day 1 of the first Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on 418/9 in 90 overs. The hosts were in complete control of proceedings for majority of the day, but the Proteas held firm and ended up in quite a strong position considering the manner in which they had kicked off with proceedings.

Zimbabwe started off quite with the new ball. South Africa could only manage to score three runs off the first five overs. All of Blessing Muzarabani's first three overs were maidens. The left-arm spin of Wellington Masakadza from the end seemed to have worked out decently well. Tony de Zorzi's laboured struggle at the crease ended after he edged a delivery from Tanaka Chivanga to depart for a 16-ball duck.

The first runs off Muzarabani was a boundary off his 28th delivery of the day. South Africa somehow got to 15/1 at the end of 10 overs. A couple of nicks outside the line of the off stump brought about the downfall of Matthew Breetzke (13 off 45) and David Bedingham (zero off three), with Chivanga breathing fire from one end. Test debutant, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, coming in at No. 5, was already in by the 15th over.

The 19-year-old got going within no time. His first six and four in international came off consecutive deliveries in the very next over of his arrival in the middle. Wiaan Mulder brought up his first boundary on his 45th ball with an intentful shot down the ground. However, Mulder (17 off 47) fell victim to a complete piece of miscommunication in the next over to be run-out.

By the time Lunch was taken, Pretorious had already got to 44. There was this chance he survived shortly prior to the interval in which there was a inside-edge on the way to the wicketkeeper. The Zimbabweans were extremely confident in their appeal. However, no use of DRS in the series meant the youngster got away with that.

Dewald Brevis, another Test debutant, got his first six in the format in the second over of the second session. It was the same over in which the ball had to be replaced due to the maximum, prior to which Pretorious brought up his maiden fifty on debut. A few overs, Brevis got to his fifty in style by smashing three sixes off leg-spinner Vincent Masekesa's fifth over.

The extra bounce of Muzarabani was enough to send Brevis (51 off 41) back to the pavilion the over after which he got to his milestone. On the other hand, Masekesa continued to take a beating at the other end. After six overs, his figures read 0/62. A superb catch at first slip sent Kyle Verreynne (10 off 16) back, with Zimbabwe securing their sixth wicket.

Pretorius got to his ton on the first ball of the 50th over. With that, he became the yougest centurion for his nation. Coming in at No. 5, he had almost scored half of the Proteas' runs by the time he registered his century. Corbin Bosch managed to hang around with him till when Tea was taken. Only time would tell whether the hosts would manage to bowl South Africa out in the third session.

Pretorius seemed to have not lost one bit of momentum after the break. He increased the tally of his boundary count to raise his bat for 150 briefly post the Tea break. Chivanga finally ended up bagging his fourth wicket in the form of the left-hander. Pretorious departed for 153 off 160, with his side on the brink of touching the 300-run mark.

Bosch brought up his fifty with his fifth four. Skipper, Keshav Maharaj, looked promising during his stint in the middle. However, he fell for 21 off 30 to help Masekesa get his first breakthrough in his 10th over. Another debutant, Codi Yusuf, made his way out. He finally got off the mark on the 18th delivery with a trickle towards third man for three.

Codi scored his first three boundaries in consecutive overs. He departed for an extremely useful 27 off 49 after adding two more fours to his count, bringing an end to a 59-run stand for the 10th wicket. Kwena Maphaka was successful in blocking out the final three balls of the 86th over to bring Bosch back on strike for a potential first hundred.

The 30-year-old was into the nineties with his ninth four of the innings. Not long after, South Africa got to their team 400. A ball after being dropped in what was a half chance at best, Bosch got to a well-deserved ton, which was also his first in First-Class cricket. Maphaka ended the day on a high with a maximum over deep square-leg on the final ball of the first day.