South Africa Emerging captain Mihlali Mpongwana completed his century on the third day of the first unofficial Test against Zimbabwe Emerging as the visitors closed in on victory at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday.
The visiting skipper struck 133 off 183 balls (12x4, 1x6) and then watched teammate Dewan Marais up the ante at the other end with a dashing 73 off 59 balls (7x4, 3x6) before deciding to declare on 586/6.
That left the South Africans 370 ahead and the home side then limped to the close on 123/4, still trailing by a massive 247 with the final day to come on Sunday.
It was another impressive overall performance by coach Malibongwe Maketa’s charges, who started the third morning on 432/3 with Mpongwana and Dian Forrester resuming their unbroken 208-run stand.
The pair took their partnership to 253 for the fourth wicket, before it was eventually broken when the latter was trapped leg before wicket for 147 off 219 balls (11x4, 1x6) by Tapiwa Mufudza (3/159).
But Mpongwana remained firm as he watched Marais tear into the bowling with his flying half-century that took SA close to 600 when they eventually decided to end their innings.
In reply, Zimbabwe made a fair start as they reached 44/0 when Jade de Klerk, the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with 2/33, bowled Nick Welch for 17.
Just four runs later and Codi Yusuf (1/17) removed captain Takudzwanashe Kaitano for 29. Larvet Masunda was forced to retire hurt for four, with Antum Naqvi (22) then becoming De Klerk’s second victim with the total on 87.
Alistair Frost (34*) and Nyasha Mayavo (9) looked to have then settled things before the close,but the latter was cleaned up by Tristan Luus (1/22) in the penultimate over of the day leaving the hosts with a tall ask on the final day.
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