Twin tons help South Africa breach 400 on opening day

A second-string South African team staged a remarkable recovery against Zimbabwe on the opening day of the first Test following centuries from debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch. Reduced to 55/4 at one stage on the opening morning, South Africa finished the day on a strong note as they managed to breach the 400-run mark.

With only four members present in the XI that won the WTC Final earlier this month, South Africa began on a jittery note with their openers departing early. Tanaka Chivanga, who came into the attack very early, managed to remove both Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke. Chivanga was breathing fire in his opening spell as David Bedingham poked at a delivery away from the stumps to edge it to first slip. Pretorius then walked out with intent and struck just his fourth ball in Test cricket for a six and followed it up with a cover drive for four.

However, Wiaan Mulder made matters worse for his side when he attempted an unnecessary single and got run out. Dewald Brevis, another debutant, joined Pretorius out in the middle as the two had a massive rebuilding job in their hands. Things should have become even more bleak for the visitors at that point when the left-hander clearly edged one behind but with no DRS available for the series, he was given a massive reprieve which he made use of. Post the lunch break, Brevis cut loose and kept finding the boundary with the highlight being three sixes off an over from Vincent Masekesa to bring up a fifty on debut.

Much to Zimbabwe's relief, Brevis mistimed one in the very next over to depart for 51. While Pretorius continued to make merry, Zimbabwe managed to see the back of Kyle Verreynne soon to reduce South Africa to 189/6. At that point, they would have fancied their chances of bowling South Africa out for less than 250. However, dropping Bosch early in his innings hurt the hosts big time as he made merry alongside the youngster. Pretorius brought up his century off just 112 balls and he was the youngest South African to get to that landmark on debut.

The left-hander added a couple of more sixes off Brian Bennett and hit Chivanga for three fours in an over to pile on the agony and eventually bring up his 150 as well. It took Zimbabwe's best bowler on the day, Chivanga, to finally end the brilliant innings. Keshav Maharaj and debutant Codi Yusuf made handy contributions and were involved in useful stands with Bosch. But once the ninth wicket fell with five overs left in the day, Bosch farmed the strike for the major part to bring up his maiden ton. For his part, Kwena Maphaka hung in there until the end before finishing the day with a six off the last ball.

Brief scores: South Africa 418/9 (Lhuan-dre Pretorius 153, Corbin Bosch 100*; Tanaka Chivanga 4/83) vs Zimbabwe.