Zim chase elusive home Test win against South Africa

Don Makanyanga

Zimpapers Sports Hub

IT has been five long years since Zimbabwe last won a Test match on home soil. Now, standing in their way are the reigning World Test Champions.

The Chevrons head into today’s second and final Test against South Africa at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, looking not just to level the series, but to finally end a streak that has hung over their red-ball campaign like a shadow.

They lost the first Test by 328 runs earlier last week, a heavy defeat, but not an unfamiliar one. Zimbabwe have now played 18 Tests in the past five years, managing just two wins (both away), three draws and 13 losses.

That kind of record makes today’s match more than just another fixture; it is a chance at redemption.

“Test cricket is not complicated,” said Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons ahead of the second Test.

“It is really about doing the basics longer than the opposition.”

And Sammons knows exactly where things went wrong in the first match.

“From a bowling point of view, that’s certainly what the best bowler on display, who was Codi Yusuf, did,” he said.

“He was relentless in executing the basics. When we were on top, we gave them freebies to get away from us. Just cutting out those bad balls, especially from the spin.”

Sammons said batting discipline was just as important.

“It’s about understanding conditions and applying ourselves and our game plan accordingly,” he said. “We have our boxes that we know we need to be ticking, so it’s about getting there and actually doing it.”

Zimbabwe’s recent red-ball history does not make for easy reading.

Since hosting Sri Lanka in 2020, they have suffered blowout defeats to Bangladesh (by an innings and 106 runs), Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland and Afghanistan.

Even their two wins, against Afghanistan in 2021 and Bangladesh in April 2025, were followed by immediate defeats, ending both series in draws.

After more than 20 years, Zimbabwe faced England in a one-off historic Test earlier this year, only to lose by an innings and 45 runs.

Then came last week’s thrashing by South Africa.

Still, hope flickers.

Today’s Test could mark the return of 21-year-old opener Brian Bennett, who suffered a concussion after being struck on the helmet by a Kwena Maphaka delivery during the first Test.

He was replaced by Prince Masvaure, but is now technically eligible for selection again, having completed the mandatory seven-day rest period.

Sammons, though, is taking no chances.

“Certainly he (Bennett) won’t be put at risk. If there’s still risk at play, he won’t be playing,” he said.

“We gave the guys a day off to make sure they’re mentally switched on. It will come down to us executing.”

Across the crease, South Africa have also made changes.

Stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj is out with a groin injury, with all-rounder Wiaan Mulder stepping in as captain.

Senuran Muthusamy replaces Maharaj in the playing XI.

Zimbabwe have never beaten South Africa in Test cricket. The Proteas have claimed eight wins from nine encounters, including last week’s rout.

But history is not set in stone. Not yet.

For the Chevrons and their long-suffering supporters, the second Test that starts at 10am today at Queens Sports Club is more than just another match; it is a shot at rewriting the story.