South Africa 309-9 declared (Markram 125, De Villiers 53, Bavuma 44, Jarvis 3/57, Mpofu 3/58) beat Zimbabwe 68 (Jarvis 23, Burl 16, Morkel 5/21, Phehlukwayo 2/12, Rabada 2/12 Philander 1/21) and (Ervine 23, Taylor 16, Maharaj 5/59, Phehlukwayo 3/13, Philander 1/10, Rabada 1/12) by an innings and 120 runs

ZIMBABWE went down by an innings and 120 runs to South Africa in the historic four-day cricket Test with the match over inside two days on Wednesday.

It was a not up to scratch batting display by the tourists who lost 16 wickets in one day as they failed to handle the pressure piled on them by the clinical home team’s bowlers.

Zimbabwe, in response to South Africa’s 309 were bundled out for 68 in their first innings.

When forced to follow on, the visitors still failed to overtake the Proteas score as they were cleaned up for 121 in their second innings.

The highest score in both innings by a Zimbabwean batsman was 23, by Kyle Jarvis in the first and Craig Ervine in the second.

South African bowlers were outstanding with five wicket hauls for seamer Morne Morkel in Zimbabwe’s first innings while in the second left arm spinner Keshav Maharaj also achieved the bowling milestone. Proteas stand in skipper AB de Villiers also caught eight Zimbabwean batsmen behind the stumps which took him past the 200 catches mark in Test cricket.

South African batsman Aiden Markram walked away with the man of the match accolade for his 125 in South Africa’s first and only innings.

Zimbabwe had resumed from their overnight score of 30 for the loss of four wickets with debutant Ryan Burl and Jarvis the two batsmen at the crease. As the two looked to build a partnership, Morkel knocked over Burl’s off stump.

Morkel soon had his fourth wicket, Sikandar Raza looked uncomfortable facing up to the pace bowler and departed for a four ball duck, getting an outside edge to be taken behind by AB de Villiers to leave the visitors in all sorts of trouble at 36 for six.

Jarvis played brilliantly for his 23 but he too perished edging behind, dismissed by Andile Phehlukwayo. The slide continued, skipper Graeme Cremer gone for two, yet another outside edge to hand Kagiso Rabada his first wicket of the match, De Villiers with another catch behind.

He was soon followed by Peter Moor who was bowled by Phehlukwayo for nine. Christopher Mpofu was the last batsman out, Rabada with hi second, Temba Bavuma with the catch at gully.

With Zimbabwe 241 runs behind, South Africa promptly enforced the follow on.

Rabada found the breakthrough for the Proteas, removing Chamunorwa Chibhabha who was taken behind by De Villiers for 15 runs.

Brendan Taylor went for 16, removed by off spinner Keshav Maharaj attempting a reserve sweep only for the ball to come off his bat, pads and to Hashim Amla in the slips. Craig Ervine shortly followed him out for 23.

A soft dismissal accounted for Raza, with the batsman popping a Maharaj delivery to Phehlukwayo at point. The wobble continued, Burl gone for a four ball duck, Phehlukwayo with his second, De Villiers with the catch behind.

It was one- way traffic as Moor also went, Phehlukwayo with his third, De Villiers with yet another take behind. Hamilton Masakadza became Maharaj’s third wicket, getting a huge outside edge and De Villiers was delighted to complete the dismissal.

Philander was brought back into the attack and bowled Jarvis for to leave Zimbabwe eight down for 98. Mpofu attempted a big shot only to be bowled by Maharaj. The left arm orthodox spinner brought an end to the Zimbabwean innings when he rattled Blessing Muzarabani’s off stump.

@Mdawini_29