ZIMBABWE v SOUTH AFRICA

At Harare, October 13, 14, 15, 16. South Africa won by seven wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe. Test debuts: A. C. I. Lock, C. B. Wishart.

South Africa's first Test against their immediate neighbours was notable mostly for some wonderful fast bowling from Donald as Zimbabwe were beaten inside four days. Coming in off a shortened run but with little noticeable loss of pace, Donald was simply too quick and too controlled for the Zimbabweans in their second innings. Taking full advantage of a slight ridge, he claimed eight for 71 - the best Test analysis by any South African since their return to international cricket - to leave Zimbabwe at least 100 short of a defensible target.

The Zimbabweans did play with great spirit, none more so than Streak, who bowled and batted with gusto. Their shortage of meaningful competition showed, however, and South Africa had few moments of real anxiety. The return of Donald's new-ball partner, Schultz, attracted keen interest, particularly in view of England's imminent tour. He had been out of Test cricket for two years with a bad knee and was called up here only because De Villiers was injured. Schultz was perhaps over-anxious to do well. He fell in his delivery stride three times and was spoken to by umpire Shepherd and warned by referee Jarman after an unsportsmanlike gesture when he had Houghton caught behind. That was one of three early wickets he claimed as Zimbabwe slipped to 23 for four. Although Streak fashioned a lusty fifty to take the total to 170, South Africa had gained the early initiative.

They seemed to have lost it, though, in a nervous start against Streak and the left-arm seamer Bryan Strang. Early on the second morning, they were 85 for four. But Hudson, who had returned to open after being dropped the previous summer, batted beautifully for more than five hours. He scored his third Test century and shared a partnership of 101 with McMillan to take South Africa well into the lead. After he fell, McMillan increased that lead to a handsome 176, mainly with the help of Donald, before he was stranded two short of his century.

Most of the Zimbabweans got themselves in the second innings before Donald got them out. Of the recognised batsmen, only Grant Flower failed to reach 20, but only his brother Andy pressed on for a half-century.

With most of two days remaining to chase 108 for victory, the South Africans again began edgily, losing three for 48. The Zimbabweans, however, seemed torn between sticking with Streak and Lock, who had made the breakthrough, and leg-spinner Paul Strang, their only realistic hope of snatching something from the game. In the event, Strang, was not called up until Cronje had played himself in, and the match ended shortly after lunch. The Zimbabweans were forced to wait before buying their opponents a post-match drink, as South Africa immediately embarked upon a lengthy fielding practice.

Man of the Match: A. A. Donald.

Close of play: First day, South Africa 74-3 (A. C. Hudson 45*, C. R. Matthews 10*); Second day, Zimbabwe 13-0 (M. H. Dekker 2*, G. W. Flower 5*); Third day, Zimbabwe 272-8 (P. A. Strang 34*, B. C. Strang 18*).