Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo
THE Queens Sports Club pitch had a story to tell this morning and Zimbabwe’s seamers were the ones holding the mic!
In a blistering opening session of the first Test against South Africa, the Chevrons tore through the visitors’ top order like a hot knife through margarine, leaving the so-called World Test Champions gasping at 90/4 by lunch.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the Proteas probably expected a calm morning stroll. What they got instead was Tanaka “Terror” Chivanga and Blessing “Bounce Master” Muzarabani serving serious heat on a wicket offering zip, bounce and early chaos.
Tony de Zorzi didn’t even survive a full over of Muzarabani’s menace — dropped on the third ball and looking shaky from the get-go. But it was Chivanga who sent him packing for a 16-ball duck, caught at third slip by Brian Bennett.
Chivanga came back breathing fire, removing Mathew Breetzke for 13 with another edge to third slip, then striking again as David Beddingham feathered one for a three-ball duck. The scoreboard read 23/3 and Queens was rocking.
South Africa’s only gift came via the absence of DRS, when debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorious edged one to the keeper and was controversially given not out. But karma came fast, as confusion between him and Wiaan Mulder led to a classic mix-up and a direct hit run out by Muzarabani.
Pretorious, to his credit, showed some backbone with a counter-attacking 44 off 48 balls, refusing to go down without a fight. He is currently hanging in there with fellow debutant Dewald Brevis, who’s scratching around on 10.
The session, however, belongs to the Chevrons. The energy. The aggression. The intent. This was no polite welcome to Test cricket — this was Zimbabwe marking their territory.
South Africa may have come in as champs, but right now, they’re playing catch-up in the Chevrons’ backyard.
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