Piedt has Zimbabwe on the ropes

Harare - Off-spinner Dane Piedt took three wickets, his first with his maiden ball in Test cricket, as South Africa reduced Zimbabwe to 165/5 at tea on the opening day of the one-off Test at Harare Sports Club on Saturday.

LIVE: Zimbabwe v SA - Day 1

Piedt trapped Mark Vermeulen leg before wicket with his first ball 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.

The 24-year-old later bowled Hamilton Masakadza (45) and two balls later had Regis Chakabva caught at short mid-wicket by Hashim Amla for a duck as he recorded figures of 3-61.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor will resume after the interval on 60 along with Richmond Mutumbami, who has 15.

Dale Steyn took the other two wickets to fall after Zimbabwe had won the toss. Vusi Sibanda was caught at third slip by Alviro Petersen for a duck and Sean Williams edged behind to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock on 24.

Steyn has now moved past West Indian great Malcolm Marshall to 377 Test wickets and 14th place on the all-time list, with Ian Botham next in his sights on 383.

Zimbabwe sought to create a flat batting track to counter the South African quicks, something they managed, but in the process have delivered a wicket taking prodigious turn on day one.

Vermeulen, playing his first Test in a decade, was a surprise inclusion for the home side, who also handed debuts to 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.