South Africa's bowlers built on opening-day centuries from Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch on day two of the first Test against Zimbabwe, skittling their hosts for 251 to strengthen their grip on the contest.

On Saturday, 19-year-old Pretorious (153) became the youngest player to score at least 150 runs on their Test debut, with Bosch adding an unbeaten 100.

South Africa declared overnight at 418-9, opting to take up the new ball to start the second morning. That decision brought immediate dividends as Codi Yusuf struck in the first over of his Test debut, having Takudzwanashe Kaitano (0) taken by Tony de Zorzi.

Yusuf then dropped Zimbabwe to 28-2 with the dismissal of Nick Welch (four), before Brian Bennett retired hurt. The hosts were teetering at that point, but Sean Williams steadied things with his sixth Test century.

Zimbabwe reached 119 before their next casualty, Craig Ervine (36) stumped by Kyle Verreynne to hand Keshav Maharaj his 200th Test wicket.

The wickets started to fall with some regularity from then on, with Wiaan Mulder bettering the three-wicket hauls of Yusuf and Maharaj with four of his own, but Williams hit a serene 137 from 164 deliveries to stave off a total collapse.

Williams had scored more than half of Zimbabwe's runs by the time he was stumped off Maharaj's bowling in the 66th over, and none of the hosts' last seven batters managed more than Wesley Madhevere's 15.

South Africa only had to navigate 13 overs with the bat before stumps, though they were unable to do so without loss as Matthew Breetzke's thick edge was snaffled by Madhevere.

The Proteas will resume at 49-1 on Monday with Mulder (25 not out) and De Zorzi (22 not out) at the crease, leading by 216 as they bid to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Stumps on Day 2 

The Proteas Men are firmly in control of this Test match as they close the day on 49/1 after 13 overs, extending their lead to 216 runs 

A dominant display as South Africa set the tone heading into tomorrow’s Day 3 #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/X0BTUkgrNd

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 29, 2025

Data Debrief: History for Maharaj 

Standing in to lead the Proteas in the absence of injured captain Temba Bavuma, Maharaj has enjoyed a sterling start to this series.

He ended the first Zimbabwe innings with figures of 3-70, not quite on par with Yusuf's 3-42 or Mulder's 4-50, but enough to see him claim a place in the history books.

Maharaj moved to 202 Test wickets, becoming the ninth South African to achieve over 200 wickets in Tests and the first spinner to do so.