Bennett Ruled Out Due to Concussion; Masvaure Named Replacement

Zimbabwean opening batsman Brian Bennett will not continue in the ongoing Test match against South Africa in Bulawayo after sustaining a mild concussion.

The veteran player, Prince Masvaure, aged 36, has been selected as the concussion substitute for the remainder of the game.

Following South Africa’s declaration at 418 for 9 overnight, Bennett commenced Zimbabwe’s innings on the second day, witnessing the quick dismissals of his partners Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Nick Welch early on.

During the sixth over, Bennett attempted a pull shot against a short ball delivered by Kwena Maphaka, resulting in the ball striking his helmet off a top edge.

At the time of the incident, Bennett had scored 19 runs from 25 deliveries. Despite initially passing the concussion assessments conducted on the field and resuming his innings, he displayed visible signs of discomfort.

He faced three additional balls in the subsequent over bowled by Codi Yusuf, who had already claimed two wickets, before retiring hurt in the eighth over.

Until that moment, Bennett appeared to be the most settled of Zimbabwe’s top-order batsmen.

He entered the match in good form, having recently scored an impressive 139 against England in Nottingham, marking his third consecutive score of fifty or more in his last three Test appearances, including the century.

Masvaure’s most recent Test appearance was in July 2024 against Ireland in Belfast, where he recorded a half-century in the first innings.

During the 2024–25 Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s premier domestic first-class competition, he accumulated 165 runs across five innings, maintaining an average of 41.25, with his highest score being 50 not out.

As of the latest update, Zimbabwe’s score stands at 159 for 3 in 41 overs, trailing South Africa by 259 runs.

South Africa’s substantial total was largely due to an outstanding innings of 153 from 160 balls by Lhuan-dre Pretorius and an unbeaten century by Corbin Bosch.

Despite losing Kaitano, Welch, and captain Sean Williams early, Zimbabwe showed resilience, with Sean Williams and Wessly Madhevere aiming to rebuild the innings.