SA vs ZIM 1st Test Day 2 Highlights: Sean Williams Ton Not Enough as South Africa Tighten Grip with 216-Run Lead
Sean Williams gave Zimbabwe something to cheer about with a well-made 137 off 164 balls on day two of the first Test against South Africa in Bulawayo. But despite his fine knock, South Africa stayed well ahead in the game. They ended the day on 49 for 1 in their second innings and now lead by 216 runs with nine wickets still in hand. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 251 in reply to South Africa’s first-innings total of 418 for 9 declared. The visitors, even without some of their regular players, are in a strong position heading into day three.
South African opener Tony de Zorzi remained unbeaten on 22, while all-rounder Wiaan Mulder was on 25 as the visitors looked to build a strong lead for Zimbabwe to chase. The only wicket to fall in the second innings was Matthew Breetzke, who was dismissed for just 1, caught by Wessly Madhevere in the gully off Tanaka Chivanga’s bowling.
Sean Williams' gritty sixth Test century helped Zimbabwe avoid the follow-on 🏏#ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/EEzY0sHajl
— ICC (@ICC) June 29, 2025
Sean Williams Fights Through Pain to Score Sixth Test Century
38-year-old Sean Williams was the standout performer for Zimbabwe, holding the innings together with a brilliant centur his sixth in just 21 Tests. He showed real grit, especially after taking a painful blow to the helmet from young South African pacer Kwena Maphaka. Earlier in the day, Maphaka had also forced opener Brian Bennett to leave the field after hitting him on the helmet. Bennett was later ruled out of the rest of the match due to concussion.
Prince Masvaure came in as a concussion substitute for Brian Bennett but could only score 7 runs before falling to Wiaan Mulder, who ended with impressive figures of 4 for 50. Debutant pacer Codi Yusuf also had a strong outing, picking up 3 for 42, while stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj chipped in with 3 for 70. Maharaj also claimed the key wicket of Sean Williams, who was stumped by Kyle Verreynne after a fine innings.
South Africa came into this Test with a fresh-looking side, fielding only four players from the team that beat Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s earlier this month. Among their three debutants was 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who made headlines by scoring 153 off just 160 balls in the first innings. At 19 years and 93 days, he became the youngest male cricketer to score 150 on Test debut. His knock was also the second-fastest 150 by a debutant in Test history, just behind India’s Shikhar Dhawan, who reached the mark in 131 balls back in 2013.
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