South Africa's comeback to Test cricket in Zimbabwe after over a decade was marked by a nervous beginning under temporary skipper Keshav Maharaj in Bulawayo on Day 1. Maharaj, the sole survivor of the 2014 Harare Test, chose to bat first, with the aim of establishing a platform on a parched track. But as the Zimbabwean seamers kept things tight, the pressure gradually fell on the touring batters. In the middle of this battle was a moment of epiphany and sportsmanship, executed mastermindedly by Blessing Muzarabani. In the 23rd over, Muzarabani bowled a testing length ball which swung back in towards off-stump. Wiaan Mulder, playing defensively at 17, drove the ball with gentle hands down the leg side. On the face of it, a standard dot ball. But what came next was complete mayhem. A quick glance, a nervous shout, and then a desperate try to steal a run, all within seconds. As the ball rolled off the pitch, Muzarabani, in exemplary alertness, ran to his right in his follow-through. He picked the ball up himself rather than relying on a fielder, rotated in one seamless motion, and let go of a firm throw towards the non-striker's end. His accuracy was impeccable. The ball thundered into the stumps with Mulder way short, diving but defeated. What made the wicket remarkable wasn’t just the direct hit, it was the sequence: the awareness to react instantly, the fitness to chase the ball himself, and the composure to execute under pressure. It was a wicket purely of Muzarabani’s making, no fielding help, no margin for error. The run-out not only ended a budding innings but also epitomized Zimbabwe’s spirited intent with the ball and in the field, leaving South Africa reeling at 55/4 in a dramatic opening session. Watch the clip here: Sharp fielding from Muzarabani⚡Total mix-up and Mulder pays the price! Muzarabani sprints, fires, and hits bullseye at the non-striker’s end.#ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/n2lxRyswPn — FanCode (@FanCode) June 28, 2025 Also Read | Top 10 Best Openers in World Cricket History Lhuan-dre Pretorius Anchors South Africa After Early Wobble in Bulawayo South Africa, who were playing their first Test in 11 years in Zimbabwe, had a tumultuous beginning before debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius changed the script with a level-headed unbeaten 94 on Day 1 of the game at Bulawayo's Queens Sports Club. South Africa decided to bat first under acting captain Keshav Maharaj and collapsed to 23/3 as Tanaka Chivanga destroyed the top order, dismissing Tony de Zorzi, Breetzke and David Bedingham for a song. Mulder's strange run-out, facilitated by a breathtaking direct hit from Muzarabani, piled on the agony at 55/4. But the teen pair of Pretorius and Dewald Brevis staged a super counterattack, scoring 95 runs at a furious rate. Brevis, in particular, was explosive, hammering four sixes on his way to 51 off 41 deliveries. Post-his fall, Kyle Verreynne contributed a swift 10 before being caught by Masakadza. By the end of the second session, South Africa reached 201/6 in 48 overs, with Pretorius holding firm and Corbin Bosch providing solid support. While Muzarabani’s economical spell of 1/21 and Chivanga’s timely breakthroughs ensured Zimbabwe stayed in the contest, it was Pretorius’ composed innings that shaped the day’s narrative.