Zimbabwe
South Africa
South Africa will look to seal the series when they take on Zimbabwe in the second Test at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. The visitors started their World Test Championship 2025–27 campaign with a convincing win in the first Test and will enter this game with momentum on their side.
South Africa has now won each of their last 5 Tests, despite missing key names. Keshav Maharaj, who led well in the absence of Temba Bavuma, will continue as captain in the second game as well. Zimbabwe will aim to bounce back, but their recent record suggests a tough road ahead.
Zimbabwe have lost 4 of their last 5 Tests, with just one win. Head-to-head also favours South Africa heavily. Out of the last 6 Tests between these teams, South Africa have won 5, including three wins by an innings. Zimbabwe’s challenge will be to avoid another one-sided defeat.
South Africa scored three centuries in the first Test and has a more consistent batting unit compared to Zimbabwe, making them likely to produce the highest scorer in this match.
The betting tip is...
Top Batter’s Team - South Africa
58 %
42 %
ZimbabweSouth AfricaZimbabwe will continue with a similar playing XI in the second Test. Their bowlers showed some fight in the first match, with Tanaka Chivanga picking 6 wickets in total, including a 4-wicket haul in the first innings. Wellington Masakadza took 4 wickets in the second innings and 1 in the first. Blessing Muzarabani and Vincent Masekesa chipped in with 3 wickets each across both innings.
With the bat, Sean Williams will remain the key player. He scored 137 runs off 164 balls in the first innings. Craig Ervine added 36 (90) in the first and 49 in the second. Masakadza also contributed with a fighting 57 lower down the order. However, Zimbabwe’s top three will need to step up and provide a better start in this match.
Williams, Ervine and Masakadza are the key players to watch out for.
Predicted Lineup: Brian Bennett/Prince Masvaure, Takudzawanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga.
South Africa will likely go with the same playing XI in the second Test, with Keshav Maharaj continuing as captain in Bavuma’s absence. The first Test saw strong performances from debutants. Lhuan-dre Pretorius became the youngest South African to score 150 on debut. Dewald Brevis also scored a fifty on his debut. Codi Yusuf impressed with 3 wickets in each innings.
Corbin Bosch continued to make a mark by becoming the first South African since 2002 to score a century and take a 5-wicket haul in the same Test.
Wiaan Mulder played a key all-round role, taking 4 wickets in the first innings and scoring 147 off 205 in the second. Keshav Maharaj added 4 wickets across both innings. South Africa will expect stronger starts from their openers, Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi.
Bosch, Mulder and Pretorius are the performers to watch out for.
Predicted Lineup: Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj (c), Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka.
South Africa will likely dominate again in Bulawayo. Their batters showed clear class in the first Test, piling up 3 centuries even on a slow surface. Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi will look to contribute this time, while Lhuan‑dre Pretorius and Wiaan Mulder will keep the pressure on through the middle overs. Zimbabwe’s seamers leaked runs despite early movement, and the same attack will face a fresher, more confident South African batting lineup.
With Ervine and Williams carrying most of Zimbabwe’s scoring burden, the home side may struggle to match the tempo. South Africa’s deep batting order and recent five‑match winning streak point to another sizable first‑innings total. Expect the South African batters to set the tone and steer this Test firmly in their favour.
