Mulder's half-century hands South Africa control

Wiaan Mulder scored a fluent half-century as he shepherded South Africa to 113 for two at lunch on the first day of their second test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.

The toss went Craig Ervine's way, and the Zimbabwean captain opted to bowl first. The visitors embraced the challenge, and had Wiaan Mulder (60*) and David Bedingham (40*) at the crease at the interval.

The hosts were hoping to rattle South Africa's cage early on, and they did so with the dismissals of the two openers. However, Mulder and David Bedingham joined forces to compile an unbroken 89-run third-wicket partnership that steadied the ship for South Africa.

Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga, and Kundai Matigimu did a sterling job in the first hour, so much so that South Africa was scoring at a rate just above a run an over. The visitors were on 11 for one when Mulder arrived at the crease at the start of the 10th over. The South African captain upended Zimbabwe's bowling plans by fighting fire with fire.

The 27-year-old looked unbothered by Zimbabwe's short-ball ploy in the second hour. Mulder took on the short deliveries as he raced to his second test half-century. He faced 53 balls to reach the milestone. This is the second time that Mulder has passed 50 runs in three innings. When he did so in the first test, Mulder went on to record an outstanding century.

His partner, David Bedingham, was going at a rate that is more in keeping with limited-overs cricket. The No 4 will be keen to convert his start into a substantial score. Bedingham missed out on runs in the first test and was one of the batters Mulder had mentioned as hungry for runs ahead of the encounter.

Tanaka Chivanga and Wellington Masakadza were the only two wicket-takers for Zimbabwe in the morning session. As he did in the first test, Chivanga provided Zimbabwe with a breakthrough in the first hour of play. The pacer caused problems for Tony de Zorzi in the first test; and the story was the same in the second test. Chivanga could have accounted for the left-hander earlier, but Sean Williams dropped the opportunity at second slip.

Chivanga was not dispirited by the missed chance. He kept plugging away at a good area, adding to the pressure being applied by the debutant Kundai Matigimu at the other end. Zimbabwe was rewarded with a scalp when De Zorzi couldn't get the height he needed to clear Nicholas Welch at gully.

Zimbabwe made it two wickets in the session when Wellington Masakadza ended Lesego Senokwane's stay in the middle 4.4 overs later. The South African debutant had done a good job of negating the new ball in the first hour, but his attempt at the sweep shot was mistimed, and he was trapped lbw.

Chivanga had a single wicket for 21 runs in seven overs. Masakadza's wicket came at the cost of 25 runs in six overs. Kundai Matigimu and Blessing Muzarabani had yet to claim victims in the encounter.

ZIMBABWE: Tanaka Chivanga, Craig Ervine, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicolas Welch, Sean Williams.

SOUTH AFRICA: Lesego Senokwane, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kyle Verreynne, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Codi Yusuf, Prenelan Subrayen