Courtesy: X
Corbin Bosch’s unbeaten century along with Lhuan-dre Pretorious’ dream debut created the much wanted platform on which South Africa asserted their dominance in the first Test of the two-match series against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. It was from a situation which did not appear to be in their favour.
On the first day of the Test match against Zimbabwe, the Proteas had a sloppy start, with their top order getting trapped against the extra bounce that the pitch had to offer to Zimbabwe pacers. But, Bosch’s innings made their foundation stronger, which was laid by debutants Pretorius and Devald Brevis from a tough spot. After that, Corbin Bosch along with Pretorius created the highest partnership of the Proteas’ innings, scoring 108 runs in 136 deliveries.
Coming to the crease at a critical juncture when South Africa were 181/6, Bosch not only laid an important stand with Pretorious, but he also was involved in three more vital partnerships which led to South Africa scoring 418/9, a score which was difficult to imagine at one point in the game.
Corbin Bosch had a tough start to his innings before he got into his own
Corbin Bosch had extra bounce causing him to misjudge his shots, but a fielder’s miscalculation saved him from getting caught on a score of two. After that, it took him 10 more deliveries to hit his first boundary of the innings.
This time he got a four at that same deep square leg region where he was dropped. After that, there was no looking back as he understood the need of the hour. He defended the ball well and only went for boundaries handful of times in the post-lunch session. With confident strokes, fast running between the wickets, and a sheer determination with which he was driving the game till the tea break, South Africa got full control of the game.
The extra bounce that had disturbed the Proteas batters earlier, was helpful for Bosch to get to his fifty as he hit a well timed cut shot over the second slip to a ball bowled in the line of the sixth stump, already anticipating the bounce. It was the 78th over by Masekesa that Bosch wreaked havoc when he hit three consecutive boundaries. And the moment that proved to be the cherry on the cake was when he was dropped again on the score of 97 as he completed two runs. On the very next ball, Corbin Bosch celebrated his first Test century that was also his first first-class ton.
