DAY 1: Chivanga slices through Proteas’ top-order

Zimbabwean paceman Tanaka Chivanga sliced through the Proteas’ top-order in stunning fashion with three wickets as South Africa were reduced to 90 for four at lunch on the first day of the first test at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday.

Both the 31-year-old Chivanga and fellow paceman Blessing Muzarabani got the new ball to lift disconcertingly off a length in their opening spells after South African skipper Keshav Maharaj had won the toss and chosen to bat first. Muzarabani looked particularly dangerous in his first spell, conceding his first run in his fifth over and beating the bat frequently.

Opener Tony de Zorzi was dropped at slip by Sean Williams off the fourth ball of Muzarabani’s opening over but Brian Bennett made amends when he held on to a low catch at third slip off Chivanga to send De Zorzi packing for a 16-ball duck in the sixth over.

Fellow opener Matthew Breetzke looked positive but was unable to control a defensive shot to a ball that spat off a length from Chivanga, with Bennett taking his second catch in the slips. And when a tentative David Bedingham edged to Zimbabwean skipper Craig Ervine at first slip, South Africa had fallen to a perilous 23 for three in the 15th over.

Wiaan Mulder, batting at three, was then joined by debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius and the pair began what turned out to be only a partial recovery with the hefty left-hander leading the way with a six and a four off consecutive deliveries from left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza who did a fair holding job throughout the session, finishing with 0/47 off 11 overs. Given the fresh conditions, it was a surprise that Zimbabwe only chose two seamers to go with two spinners.

Mulder and Pretorius looked set to see South Africa to lunch but Mulder was superbly run out in the 23rd over when he pushed Muzarabani to the off-side and set off for a quick run. There was hesitation on his part, however, and the lanky fast bowler did well to pick up the ball, swivel and throw down the stumps at the bowler’s end with Mulder (17 off 47 balls) well out of his ground.

At lunch, Pretorius had reached a brisk 44 off 48 balls, including five fours and a six, with fellow-debutant Brevis on 10. Pretorius was largely responsible for the increase in the South African run-rate although he may have been fortunate to escape when he seemed to get an inside edge to Chivanga shortly before lunch. The vociferous appeal, however, attracted no response from umpire Richard Illingworth.

Chivanga’s excellent figures at lunch were 3/22 in seven overs while Muzarabani conceded only eight runs in his nine overs.

ZIMBABWE: Brian Bennett, Takudzawanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (capt), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Tanaka Chivanga, Blessing Muzarabani

SOUTH AFRICA: Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka