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Cricket-Piedt takes wicket with first ball as Zimbabwe crawl
By Nick Said
09/08/2014
HARARE (Reuters) - Off-spinner Dane Piedt took a wicket with his first delivery in test cricket as South Africa restricted Zimbabwe to 64 for two off 27 overs at lunch on the opening day of the one-off contest at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
Piedt trapped Mark Vermeulen leg before wicket 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 in the first ball of his career in test history.
Hamilton Masakadza (28 not out), celebrating his 31st birthday, and captain Brendan Taylor (19 not out) will resume in the afternoon session on a track lacking pace but offering turn.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Zimbabwe lost a wicket before they had a run on the board as Dale Steyn had Vusi Sibanda caught at third slip by Alviro Petersen.
In the process, he equaled West Indian great Malcolm Marshall's haul of 376 test wickets.
Piedt then struck to remove Vermeulen, who was returning to test cricket for the first time in a decade, as the right-hander played back to a ball that turned into him and was struck plumb in front for 14.
Aside from the return of Vermeulen, the home side also included two debutant bowlers, off-spinner John Nyumbu and seamer Donald Tiripano.
The pair were the leading wicket-takers in Zimbabwe domestic cricket last season.
South Africa's only change from their last test in Sri Lanka last month was to include Piedt for leg-spinner Imran Tahir.
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