Veteran batter Sean Williams produced a heroic century to maintain Zimbabwe afloat, however South Africa tightened their grip on the primary Check at Queens Sports activities Membership, ending day two with a commanding lead and 9 wickets in hand.
Sean Williams stands tall amid Zimbabwean collapse
Williams, 38, showcased his class and resilience with a fluent 137 off 164 balls, marking his sixth Check hundred and the third-highest rating of his profession. His innings was a lone stand of defiance in a Zimbabwean reply that in any other case faltered beneath South Africa’s disciplined bowling. Zimbabwe had been finally bowled out for 251, trailing South Africa’s imposing first-innings whole of 418 for 9 declared.
The left-hander arrived on the crease in disaster after opener Brian Bennett was compelled to retire harm, struck on the helmet by a vicious bouncer from teenage speedster Kwena Maphaka. That blow left Zimbabwe reeling at 28 for 3, however Williams discovered an ally in captain Craig Ervine, sharing an important 89-run partnership that quickly steadied the innings.
Williams’ century, introduced up in simply 122 balls, was a mix of aggression and composure. He struck 16 boundaries, exhibiting explicit authority in opposition to the spinners, and was undeterred even after taking a nasty blow to the helmet from Maphaka himself. His innings ended when he was stumped off the bowling of stand-in South African captain Keshav Maharaj, leaving the sector to a standing ovation from the Bulawayo crowd.
The remainder of Zimbabwe’s batting failed to supply substantial assist. Concussion substitute Prince Masvaure managed simply seven, whereas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder (4/50) and debutant seamer Codi Yusuf (3/42) ran by the decrease order. Maharaj completed with 3/70, together with the essential wicket of Williams.
Proteas construct on first-innings benefit
Earlier, South Africa had recovered from a precarious 55 for 4 on day one, due to debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ record-breaking 153 and Corbin Bosch’s maiden Check century. Their 95-run stand for the fifth wicket, adopted by helpful lower-order contributions, propelled the guests to a formidable whole. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by Tanaka Chivanga and Blessing Muzarabani, had threatened early however couldn’t maintain the strain as missed probabilities and resilient batting shifted momentum South Africa’s means.
Additionally READ: From Lhuan-dre Pretorius to AB de Villiers – Youngest South African gamers to hit centuries in Check cricket
At stumps, South Africa had been 49 for one of their second innings, with Tony de Zorzi (22 not out) and Wiaan Mulder (25 not out) seeking to lengthen the lead past 216 runs. The Proteas, fielding a facet lacking a number of regulars, have seized management and are poised to set Zimbabwe an imposing goal on a floor providing help to each seamers and spinners.
South Africa in a commanding place on the finish of Day 2#cricket #ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/AK2u4qvQTw
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) June 29, 2025
Williams’ valiant effort might have saved Zimbabwe from whole collapse, however with South Africa firmly in cost, the hosts face an uphill battle to keep away from defeat because the match heads into its third day.
Additionally READ: ZIM vs SA – Followers erupts as Lhuan-dre Pretorius scripts historical past with a superb century on his Check debut
