- July 2, 2025
Every so often, a cricketer leaves the field with almost everything right. Today in Bulawayo, Corbin Bosch stood tall and took charge. The South African allrounder clobbered a century with the bat and ransacked Zimbabwe’s batting lineup with a five-wicket haul, concluding South Africa’s gargantuan 328-run victory, the biggest defeat in terms of runs that Zimbabwe has ever suffered. If this is not Bosch’s welcome to the big Test stage, we don’t know what is.
Bosch the Batting Surprise
Who in the world had a “Corbin Bosch Test hundred” on their 2025 bingo card? Bosch, a bowler by trade, went out with all guns blazing in South Africa’s first innings, finishing 100 not out. Lhuan-dre Pretorius made the loudest noise with a beautiful 153 and Bosch hit some late-order fireworks to ensure the Proteas made it past 400 — a total that had Zimbabwe on the back foot in an instant.
Flat out, though, it was not just a lucky day with the bat for Bosch. The way he farmed the strike and made full use of any loose deliveries and disrupted the opposition’s momentum showed composure well beyond his Test innings experience. Not only did he add some runs, but he did a hell of a job in draining the opposition’s momentum. By the time Zimbabwe came out to bat, a fair chunk of the psychological damage had already been done.
With Ball in Hand, Bosch Turns Executioner
The bat is his weapon of precision, the ball his tool of destruction. Chasing a ridiculous total of 537, Zimbabwe was never in the contest – and Bosch made sure it stayed that way. His Day 4 started with a wicket off the very first ball of the game, sending Nick Welch back for a golden duck, and set the tone for a morning of carnage.
Sean Williams had briefly contemplated a counterattack but Bosch removed him as well. What followed was outright carnage. Bosch, alongside Codi Yusuf who added 3-22, smashed through the middle and lower order and finished with his career best figures of 5-43. His final action? The inside edge that bowled Masekesa gave Bosch his well-earned five-for and left Zimbabwe in ruins.
The wickets caught attention, but the real hallmark was the precision and control he displayed. Bosch was able to marry seam movement with intelligent angles and kept Zimbabwe uncertain. More commonly seen on white-ball circuits, this was a notable spell.
A Test to Forget for Zimbabwe — or Learn From?
Despite the overwhelming indication of humiliation on the scoreboard, there were sections of resistance from the Zimbabwean camp. Sean Williams’ innings of a century and then the resolute partnership of Craig Ervine and Wellington Masakadza of 83 runs on Day 4 showed they fought. In a collapsing lineup, Masakadza stood tall with a fighting knock of 57.
Everyone sees it: the missing consequences, the elephant we refuse to name. Zimbabwe’s lack of ability to put pressure on quality opposition still let them down. They need to take them as lessons if they want to be a progressive Test-playing country.
Corbin Bosch entered this Test match as a bright allrounder and exited it as a match-winning headline act who helped make Zimbabwe’s heaviest ever Test defeat possible. South Africa’s 328-run thrashing was not a mere win — it was a warning to the cricketing world in terms of the depth and firepower they possess.
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