CAPE TOWN, 6 March 2005 — Zimbabwe became only the third team in modern times to lose a Test inside two days when they were beaten by an innings and 21 runs in the first Test by South Africa here at Newlands yesterday.
The hosts laid the foundations for the humiliating thrashing by skittling out Zimbabwe for 54 runs on Friday in their first innings.
Zimbabwe at least put up sterner resistance in their second innings with a defiant innings of 72 by Dion Ebrahim and some late slogging by Andy Blignaut almost forcing the hosts into batting again — but the tourists were finally bowled out for 265.
Mainly due to Ebrahim, Zimbabwe put up a reasonably respectable showing on the second day after being thoroughly outclassed on the first day when they were bowled out for a record low total of 54 and South Africa raced to 340 for three in 50 overs. South Africa declared at their overnight total but Zimbabwe did not capitulate as easily as they had the previous day.
Stuart Matsikenyeri and Barney Rogers put on 25 for the first wicket before Rogers and Ebrahim added 34 for the second wicket. Both opening batsmen fell to fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, who took two for 34 in a 10-over opening spell. Ebrahim and Hamilton Masakadza then batted enterprisingly in a third wicket stand of 98 in 107 minutes.
It looked as though the match would go into a third day before Masakadza cut left-arm spinner Nicky Boje to Herschelle Gibbs at backward point after making 46 off 78 balls with seven fours. The rest of the Zimbabwe batsmen were unable to follow the example set by Ebrahim and Masakadza. Brendan Taylor went down the wicket to Boje and hit him for four over mid-off only to be caught at mid-off when he tried to repeat the shot off the next ball.
