Overview:
Since Zimbabwe earned Test status in 1992, the nation has played 125 Tests and batted fourth on 35 occasions, but no team has ever set them such a big target.
South Africa made history in their opening Test of a two-match series against Zimbabwe at Queens Park Oval in Bulawayo, with Keshav Maharaj leading the team towards a likely victory following a near-perfect performance.
This match marks the Proteas’ first since clinching the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) title. However, they are missing several key players, including captain Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada. By the end of Day 3, Zimbabwe were 32-1 in their fourth innings, needing to chase down a record-breaking target of 537 runs.
South Africa Sets a Historic Target
With their outstanding performance, South Africa have become the first team in history to set Zimbabwe a target exceeding 500 runs in the fourth innings of a Test match. Since Zimbabwe earned Test status in 1992, the nation has played 125 Tests and batted fourth on 35 occasions, but no team has ever set them such a big target. Before this, Zimbabwe were given a target of above 400 on eight occasions, none of which were successfully chased.
| Target Set | Team | Zimbabwe Score | Venue | Year |
| 537 | SA | 32/1* | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| 491 | Sri Lanka | 233/10 | Harare | 2016 |
| 477 | Bangladesh | 256/10 | Harare | 2021 |
| 449 | Bangladesh | 226/10 | Chattogram | 2014 |
| 443 | Bangladesh | 224/10 | Mirpur | 2018 |
Zimbabwe have won only 14 Test matches in their history, with six of those victories coming while chasing in the fourth innings. Their highest successful chase was 174 runs, achieved earlier this year against Bangladesh in Sylhet.
If Zimbabwe manage to pull off a miracle and chase down 537, it would not only mark their highest-ever successful fourth-innings chase but also set a new record for the chase in Test cricket history. The current record is held by the West Indies, who chased 418 against Australia in 2003.
This is the 10th Test encounter between Zimbabwe and South Africa, with the hosts hoping to secure their first win over the Proteas. So far, South Africa have emerged victorious in eight of the nine meetings, with one match resulting in a draw.