Zimbabwe faces South Africa in the 2nd Test of the South Africa tour of Zimbabwe 2025 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. This is a crucial Test match for both teams, with South Africa looking to maintain their dominance over Zimbabwe while the hosts aim to improve their recent Test record.
The match will be played in familiar home conditions for Zimbabwe, giving them a slight advantage in terms of pitch knowledge and local conditions.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa 2nd Test: Match Preview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Zimbabwe vs South Africa – 2nd Test |
| Date | July 6th, 2025 |
| Time | 10:00 AM Local (1:30 PM IST) |
| Venue | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo |
| Tournament | South Africa tour of Zimbabwe 2025 |
| Match Type | Test |
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Bowling-friendly |
| Average Score | 289 runs (last 5 Tests) |
| Favors | Spinners |
| Surface | Good for spin bowling with assistance for slower bowlers |
| Wicket Distribution | Pacers: 84, Spinners: 82 (last 5 matches) |
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 11°C (morning), rising to 25°C |
| Humidity | Moderate |
| Wind Speed | 4 kmph |
| Rain Chance | 0.00 mm precipitation |
| Overall | Sunny conditions with clear skies |
Toss Prediction
Based on venue statistics, toss winners have opted to bat first 83% of the time at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. However, teams batting first have a win percentage of only 40%. This suggests that despite the preference to bat first, bowling first might actually provide better chances of victory at this venue.
Injury Updates
Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of 2nd test because of groin strain and in absence of him, Wiaan Mulder is the captain of South Africa.
Zimbabwe vs South Africa Dream11 Team
Zimbabwe vs South Africa: Head-to-Head Data
South Africa holds a commanding record against Zimbabwe in Test cricket. In their recent encounters, South Africa has been dominant:
- SA beat ZIM by 328 runs (28 Jun – 02 Jul, 2025) – SA: 418/9 & 369/10, ZIM: 251/10 & 208/10
- SA beat ZIM by innings and 120 runs (26-27 Dec, 2017) – SA: 309/9, ZIM: 68/10 & 121/10
- SA beat ZIM by 9 wickets (09-12 Aug, 2014) – ZIM: 256/10 & 181/10, SA: 397/10 & 44/1
- SA beat ZIM by innings and 62 runs (11-13 Mar, 2005) – SA: 480/7, ZIM: 269/10 & 149/10
The psychological advantage clearly lies with South Africa, having never lost to Zimbabwe in recent Test encounters.
Reasoning Behind Captaincy Picks
Kyle Verreynne (Captain) shows up as the top captaincy choice given his wicket-keeping role and reliable batting for South Africa. His dual role provides multiple point-scoring opportunities through both batting contributions and dismissals behind the stumps. Verreynne’s consistency in Test cricket makes him a safe captaincy option.
Sean Williams (Vice Captain) provides excellent all-round value for Zimbabwe with his left-arm spin being particularly effective on this spin-friendly surface at Bulawayo. His experience and ability to contribute with both bat and ball make him an ideal vice-captaincy pick, especially considering Zimbabwe’s familiarity with home conditions.
Alternative Options: Wiaan Mulder offers premium all-round capabilities with his batting prowess (averaging 164.0 at this venue) and useful pace bowling, making him a viable differential captain choice.
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Top Picks for the Match
Batsmen: Craig Ervine leads Zimbabwe’s batting department as their captain and most experienced batsman. Tony de Zorzi offers good value for South Africa with his recent form in Test cricket. Dewald Brevis provides explosive batting potential at a reasonable price point.
Bowlers: Wellington Masakadza stands out as the premier spin option for Zimbabwe, with his left-arm orthodox spin likely to be effective on this surface. Blessing Muzarabani brings pace and bounce to Zimbabwe’s attack, averaging 5.0 wickets in 4 matches at this venue. Tanaka Chivanga provides budget-friendly pace bowling value.
All-rounders: Wiaan Mulder tops the all-rounder category with his exceptional venue record, averaging 164.0 runs in his limited appearance at Bulawayo. Sean Williams offers excellent spin bowling and middle-order batting for Zimbabwe. Corbin Bosch provides useful all-round skills for South Africa with both batting and bowling capabilities.
Wicket-keepers: Kyle Verreynne is the premium keeper choice with his reliable batting and excellent glovework. Luan-dre Pretorius offers a budget-friendly alternative with decent batting ability and keeping skills, having scored 157 runs at a strike rate of 94.57 in his appearance at this venue.
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