Live cricket score: Zimbabwe vs South Africa, Only Test, Day 1, South Africa in Zimbabwe, 2014

Freshly re-installed as the top-ranked Test team in the world, South Africa appear disinclined to take any mercy on their struggling neighbours Zimbabwe when the two teams engage in a rare Test.

Given Zimbabwe's lowly ranking and the myriad problems infecting its cricket, the Proteas could have been forgiven for resting key players in the one-off Test but have instead stuck with the 15-man squad that recently clinched a series victory in Sri Lanka.

That means that a Zimbabwe side who have not played a Test in almost a year are set to come up against the best and most feared bowler in the world in Dale Steyn, as well as top-ranked batsman AB de Villiers and top-ranked all-rounder Vernon Philander.

Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor won the toss and decided to bat first. The hosts handed Test debuts to Donald Tiripano and John Nyumbu, while Dane Piedt made his South Africa debut, replacing Imran Tahir.

Teams:

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Mark Vermeulen, Brendan Taylor(c), Sean Williams, Regis Chakabva, Richmond Mutumbami(w), Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara, John Nyumbu, Donald Tiripano

South Africa (Playing XI): Dean Elgar, Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla(c), AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Jean-Paul Duminy, Quinton de Kock(w), Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Dane Piedt, Morne Morkel

Zimbabwe lost their first wicket without a run on the board as Vusi Sibanda fell to Dale Steyn in the third over. Trying to defend a good length delivery that was outside off, the batsman got an outside edge which travelled to Alviro Petersen at third slip.

Hamilton Masakadza scored the first run of the morning when he tapped a Vernon Philander delivery to cover and took off for a single in the 4th over. Steyn and Philander kept attacking Masakadza and Mark Vermeulen, who managed to fight it out as they kept the South African pacers at bay. Vermeulen hit a couple of lovely punches through cover, as was getting into his comfort zone while Masakadza was slightly watchful to start with, before scoring a couple of fine boundaries off Morne Morkel in the 13th over.

Debutant Dane Piedt, who was introduced in the 16th over, struck off his very first delivery to break the partnership. The off-spinner got one to turn sharply into Vermeulen and rapped him on the pads. The South Africans went up in appeal in unison and umpire Aleem Dar was quick to raise his finger. Piedt became the 19th cricketer to pick up a wicket off the first delivery of his Test career.

Taylor, who came in at number 4, started building a partnership with Masakadza to help Zimbabwe forward. With an outside edge, that travelled to the boundary in the 23rd over bowled by Steyn, Taylor took the total to the 50-run mark. The Zimbabwe captain and Masakadza remained unbeaten at lunch, having added 31 runs, to take the hosts to 64/2.

Masakadza was a lot more confident in the second session as he dealt in regular boundaries. However, his outing came to an end when he became fell to Piedt 5 short oaf a half-century. He pushed forward to defend but the ball took the inside edge and brushed the pads before crashing on to the stumps. Regis Chakabva, who was the next man in, had a short stay as he flicked one straight to Hashim Amla at short mid-wicket in the same over to give the bowler his third wicket. The batsman claimed that it was a bump ball, but the umpire sent him back.

Sean Williams and Taylor started building a partnership to help Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark before the hosts lost another wicket. Steyn picked up his second scalp when he removed Sean Williams in the 41st over. The left-hander, who attempted a drive, missed the delivery but was given out caught-behind, much to his disappointment.

While wickets fell around him in quick succession, Taylor continued in a steady manner. The Zimbabwe captain brought up his 7th Test fifty with a couple off Piedt in the 44th over.

Richmond Mutumbami supported Taylor well as they put on a defiant stand. The put on an unbeaten 45-run partnership to take Zimbabwe to 165/5 at tea.

Taylor and Mutumbami continued defying the South African bowlers in the post tea session. They did not score too many runs, but did not give away their wickets either as they kept South Africa waiting. There was an opportunity to send back the Zimbabwe captain in the 59th over when Taylor awkwardly fended a short delivery to short leg. However, Duminy put down a tough chance to give the batsman a reprieve.

The 6th wicket partnership, which was worth 59 runs, came to an end when Mutumbami fell to Steyn in the 63rd over. The batsman was unlucky as he was given out leg-before despite a thick inside edge. Panyangara, who was the next man in, started off with a couple of boundaries to power Zimbabwe past 200, before falling to Philander in the 68th over. Driving away from the body, Panyangara got a outside edge and de Kock took a good low catch to leave the hosts 7 down.

Taylor, who was approaching a well-deserved ton, missed out on the three-figure mark. The batsman was to blame as he attempted a big one off Piedt, only to mistime it and see Duminy hold on to a simple catch at deep mid-wicket.

Chatara scored at a brisk rate before becoming Steyn's fourth scalp. The batsman was unlucky though as he was given out caught-behind in the 83rd over despite not nicking the ball. Zimbabwe were 247/9.

Donald Tiripano and John Nyumbu remained unbeaten to take Zimbabwe to 248/9 at stumps. It was a mixed bag day, but South Africa finished with the honours. Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza were the best batsmen for the hosts, with the former throwing away a great opportunity to score a well deserved hundred. Debutant Dane Piedt was impressive, while Dale Steyn was at his usual best. Both picked up four wickets each and Vernon Philander bagged one. Zimbabwe will hope that the last-wicket pair can last for a while and take the total forward while South Africa will be keen to pick up the remaining wicket and get going with their innings.