ZIM vs SA second Test Preview | South Africa primed to extend winning run in longer format

‌South Africa will seek to extend their nine-match winning run in Tests when they meet Zimbabwe in the second Test at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday. The Proteas, who won the first Test comfortably by 328 runs at the same venue, lead the two-match series 1-0. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will try to make the best use of the opportunity of facing a top Test-playing nation despite having an unfavourable result in the first game.

South Africa dominated Zimbabwe on all three fronts in the last game and will look to continue on the same note in the next. Debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius impressed with his swashbuckling 153 in his first innings in Test cricket which allowed the Proteas to register a mammoth first innings score.

Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder also had excellent outings in the first Test with both bat and ball. Bosch scored his first century and registered his first five-wicket haul in just his second Test while Mulder also chipped in with a hundred and a four-wicket haul.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, could take heart from the performances of all-rounder Sean Williams and pacer Tanaka Chivanga despite their loss in the opening game. Williams stood tall scoring 137 of the total 251 runs in Zimbabwe’s first innings while Chivanga surprised the South Africa batters with his pace, bounce and movement picking up four wickets in the first innings before ending with a match haul of six wickets.

Form Guide

ZIM Form: LLLWL

SA Form: WWWWW

ZIM vs SA head-to-head in Tests

South Africa hold a clear advantage in Tests against Zimbabwe winning nine of their 10 matches while Zimbabwe are yet to register a win against their fancied neighbours with one match ending in a draw. 

ZIM 0 - 9 SA

Pitch and Conditions

The Queens Sports Club surface assisted the quicker bowlers earlier in the first game as they got good bounce and movement off the surface with appreciable carry too. The pitch slowed down in the latter half of the match and is expected to behave similarly in this game too with both pacers and spinners expected to have something out of it. The batters were also in the game scoring quick runs with the ball coming nicely onto the bat and the quick outfield giving full value for their shots.

The weather in Bulawayo is expected to remain on the colder side throughout the five-day game with temperatures slipping to 13 degrees. 

Team News

South Africa will miss the services of captain Keshav Maharaj with Wiaan Mulder expected to take over the reins in the second Test. Maharaj’s exclusion will open the door for Senuran Muthusamy while Zimbabwe are also expected to make one change replacing the concussed Brian Bennet with Prince Masvaure.

ZIM Expected XI

Prince Masvaure, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga 

SA Expected XI

Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder (c), David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka

Broadcasting Platforms 

The ZIM vs SA second Test match will be digitally streamed on the FanCode app and website in India from 1:30 PM IST on Sunday.