Taylor stitches up Zimbabwe’s defiance

Debutant off-spinner Dane Piedt and Dale Steyn took four wickets each as South Africa restricted Zimbabwe to 248 for nine at close of play on the first day of their one-off Test.

Home captain Brendan Taylor weighed in with a lusty 93 in what was a lone defiance against the South African attack on a flat Harare Sports Club pitch that offered nothing for the quicks, but had plenty of turn.

Debutants Donald Tiripano (nine) and John Nyumbu (zero) will resume on Sunday in the hope of frustrating the Proteas further.

Off-spinner Piedt recorded figures of four for 90 and picked up a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket. Piedt trapped Mark Vermeulen (14) leg-before to become the second South African to achieve the feat in Test cricket, and the first in 108 years after Bert Vogler against England.

It was the 19th time a bowler has had success with the first ball of his career in Test history.

The 24-year-old then bowled Hamilton Masakadza (45) and two balls later had Regis Chakabva caught at short mid wicket by Hashim Amla for a duck.

Crucially, Piedt then picked up the key wicket of Taylor seven runs short of what would have been a deserved fifth Test century when he picked out JP Duminy on the massive mid-wicket boundary.

Steyn toiled hard for his four for 45. He had Vusi Sibanda caught at third slip by Alviro Petersen for a duck and Sean Williams edged behind to wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock on 24. The world’s number one fast bowler also trapped Richmond Mutumbami leg-before for 21, while Tendai Chatara was adjudged caught behind by De Kock when he was on 22, though replays suggest the ball struck his leg.

Steyn has now moved past West Indian great Malcolm Marshall to 379 Test wickets and 14th place on the all-time list, with Ian Botham next in his sights on 383.