Openers tony

Queens Sports Club: Reigning champions South Africa began their campaign in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle in commanding fashion, despite stumbling early on, as they reached 418/9 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club here on Saturday.

After being reduced to 55/4 at one stage, teenaged left-handed batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius turned it around for the Proteas with a fantastic 153, as he became the youngest South African to score a Test century, alongside fellow debutant Dewald Brevis, who made 51, as the duo shared a 95-run partnership made off just 88 balls. Corbin Bosch provided the box-office entertainment in the latter part of the day as he reached his maiden Test hundred in the final over of the day.

Zimbabwe pacers had the upper hand early on with Tanaka Chivanga romping through the South African top order. Openers Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke fell similarly. With the former being dismissed for a 16-ball duck, Brian Bennett caught both batters at third slip off Chivanga.