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DAY 2: Mulder heroics lead Proteas' dominance of Zimbabwe

rugby07 July 2025 16:06| © MWP
By:Ross Roche
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It was captain Wiaan Mulder’s day as he notched up the fifth highest score in test cricket history, before picking up two wickets, as the Proteas set themselves up for a monstrous innings win over Zimbabwe in the second test at the end of day two at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday.

Mulder’s unbeaten 367, put the Proteas on 626-5 when they declared at lunch, with Zimbabwe then skittled for 170 in their first innings during the final session of play, before being forced to follow on and reached the close on 51-1 in their second, still a mammoth 405 runs shy of making the visitors bat again.

It will be a point of discussion for a long time, but Mulder selflessly decided to declare with plenty of time available for him to break Brian Lara’s test record of 400 not out, which he set against England in 2004, but he explained after the days play that he had no regrets on making that call.

“It’s pretty special (scoring 300). To be honest I never even dreamt of getting a double hundred never mind a triple hundred, but it’s super special and the most important thing is it put the team in a good position to hopefully win the test,” said Mulder.

“First I thought we have enough and we need to bowl. Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, he got 400 against England and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again I’d probably do the same thing.

“I was speaking to Shuks (Proteas coach Shukri Conrad) and he kind of said to me as well: ‘let the legends keep the really big scores’, and you never know what my fate is or what is destined for me. But Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.”

After tea the hosts resumed their first innings on 88-6, and they only reached a poor 170 all out due to a stunning unbeaten counter-attacking 83 off 55 balls from Sean Williams.

Williams was man alone as he cracked seven fours and two sixes, while the final four wickets fell around him, all claimed by debutant spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who finished with top figures of 4-42 in 10 overs.

He had Wellington Masakadza (3) caught by Mulder, bowled Kundai Matigimu for a duck, and gave some fielding practice to sub fielder Kwena Maphaka who caught Blessing Muzarabani (5) and Tanaka Chivanga (10) to end the innings.

Zimbabwe then looked more composed in their second innings as only opener Dion Meyers (11) fell, bowled by Corbin Bosch, but they still reach the end of play staring down the barrel of a huge innings defeat, likely on Tuesday’s day three.

In the post lunch session the Proteas absolutely hammered home their advantage after their record breaking batting performance led by Mulder.

All the bowlers got among the wickets with Mulder and Codi Yusuf, both 2-20, Bosch, 1-27, and Senuran Muthusamy, 1-59, getting in on the action.

Zimbabwe’s first innings got off to a disastrous start as the first ball from Yusuf superbly faded away from opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano, as he feathered an edge to keeper Kyle Verreynne, to fall for a golden duck.

In the next over Bosch bowled a similar delivery, this one catching the edge of opener Meyers's (1) bat, through to Verreynne and the hosts were in early strife on 4-2.

It didn’t get any better for the home side as Nick Welch (10), inside edged onto his own pad to be caught by sub fielder Zubayr Hamza off Yusuf, before Mulder got in on the action, having Craig Ervine (17) caught by Yusuf at backward point, and had Wesley Madhevere (25) chopping on, with Zimbabwe slipping to 56-5.

In the penultimate over to tea Muthusamy, on his return to the test side after nine months, removed Tafadzwa Tsiga (12) as he tried to pull a short ball but ended up top edging to Dewald Brevis at short cover, as they crashed to 82-6.

MULDER SMASHES RECORDS

In the morning session Mulder continued to break a slew of records as he became just the second South African to score a test triple century.

Other records Mulder passed, included him becoming South Africa’s record individual run scorer in a test, passing Hashim Amla’s unbeaten 311 against England in 2012, while he now holds the fifth highest score in test match history.

Only Lara, twice (400 and 375), Matthew Hayden (380) and Mahela Jayawardena (374) have scored more in a test.

Earlier he had become the 29th player to score a test triple century, and 33rd score of over 300 in total, with Lara, Don Bradman, Chris Gayle and Virender Sehwag having all scored two.

In the game it was another fantastic session for the Proteas, as they scored 161 runs in 26 overs at a run rate of over six runs to the over, while losing just one wicket.

The visitors resumed play in the morning on 465-4, with Mulder and Brevis (30) swiftly taking them past 500.

Brevis then became the only wicket of the session, throwing his hands at a widish delivery from Matigimu, only to end up feathering an edge to sub keeper Clive Madande with the score 513-5.

That brought Verreynne (42*) in and along with Mulder they powered on with an unbeaten 113-run stand to take them confidently to lunch.

But along the way Mulder continued to bring up milestones, first becoming South Africa’s second triple centurion and first as captain, in the 100th over of the match, flicking a single to fine leg off Chivanga to get there off 297 balls.

He then proceeded to dominate the rest of play, slamming boundaries almost at will as he cruised past Amla’s record, over 350 and into the lunch break with his team well on top.

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

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