They did show some resistance at the start of their second innings but once their first wicket fell on 51, when Chamu Chibhabha was caught behind, there followed a steady procession of batsmen to the crease as Keshav Maharaj took 5-59 and Andile Phehlukwayo returned figure of 3-13. All Zimbabwe's second innings wickets fell in a single session between the tea and dinner break. Craig Ervine was their top second innings scorer with 23 runs. South Africa won the toss and batted first Tuesday with Aiden Markram scoring 125 and AB de Villiers 53 on his return to the test arena after a hiatus of almost two years. The four-day Test is the first since the International Cricket Council tweaked regulations to give some of the weaker nations a more sporting chance, in the wake of Afghanistan and Ireland being granted Test status. The one-off game against Zimbabwe was also supposed to provide the home team with preparation for their three-Test series against top ranked side India, which begins next week.It's all over in PE! @keshavmaharaj16 takes his 3rd Test five-wicket haul as ZIM are bowled out for 121. Congratulations SA on winning by an innings and 120 runs. #ProteaFire #SAvZIM #DayNightTest pic.twitter.com/tkaq3IQP8f
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 27, 2017
But it was much more of a one-sided contest than originally expected and will have provided neither side with any meaningful experience.BRIEF SCORESouth Africa 309/9d beat Zimbabwe 68 in 30.1 overs (Morkel 5/21, Rabada 2/12) & 121 in 42.3 overs (f/o) (Maharaj 5/59, Phehlukwayo 3/13) by an innings and 120 runsOne-off Test: Keshav Maharaj, @mornemorkel65 star as South Africa crush Zimbabwe inside two days#SAvZIM
READ: https://t.co/mglbxYqgUc pic.twitter.com/G2dYPyzl5N— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) December 27, 2017