SOUTH AFRICA TOUR OF ZIMBABWE, 2025
Mulder got a reprieve late in the day to finish with 264 not out on the high-scoring opening day for the visitors © Zimbabwe Cricket
Wiaan Mulder’s mammoth 264* in his first match as captain took South Africa to 465/4 at Stumps on Day 1 of the second Test in Bulawayo. Lhuan-dre Pretorius (78) and David Bedingham (82) chipped in with big contributions to give the Zimbabwe bowlers a hard day in the field.
South Africa, despite finishing on a massive score on Day 1, started in poor fashion though. Tony de Zorzi survived an early chance after nicking one through the slips. Fast-bowler Kundai Matigimu began with a maiden in his first over in Tests before Tanaka Chivanga got the left-hander to cut one to backward point. Lesego Senokwane, who scored a 36-ball three, was dismissed after being trapped LBW.
It brought Bedingham and Mulder to the crease together and the former was at his aggressive best at the start with three successive boundaries off Matigimu. Mulder joined in the action too in quick time against Matigimu with a four and a six as the runs began to flow for the tourists. The pair continued to find the boundaries at a quick rate, frequently finding more than one in multiple overs as Mulder brought up his 50.
Soon after Lunch, Bedingham brought up his fifty as well and the two set batters switched gears immediately after. Mulder was prolific on the offside, standing tall against the back of length deliveries with backfoot punches and drives through the covers. He punished the overpitched deliveries as well and brought up his century on captaincy debut in the middle of the second session.
Bedingham was the quieter of the two in the post-Lunch session but was constantly running well. He was eventually trapped in front of the stumps on 82. Pretorius came out playing his shots in a 15-run over off Wellington Masakadza while Mulder was clinical against Chivanga heading into Tea.
Mulder continued the same intent after Tea. He scored back-to-back boundaries to bring up his 150 as he continued to look unstoppable. The two batters scored a boundary in almost every over as the visitors moved past 300 in no time. Pretorius too brought up his 50 with a sweet drive down the ground. Mulder then raised his 200 off just 214 balls with a pull to the ropes.
Zimbabwe too were poor with their control and accuracy as Mulder piled on the runs with multiple overs conceding runs in the double-digits. Pretorius fell against the run of play to give Matigimu his maiden Test wicket. Things could have gotten better for Zimbabwe near the close of play but Chivanga overstepped to give Mulder a reprieve, before the all-rounder brought up his 250 near the end of day’s play.
Brief Scores: South Africa 465/4 (Wiaan Mulder 264*, David Bedingham 82, Lhuan-dre Pretorius 78; Tanaka Chivanga 2-85) vs Zimbabwe
© Cricbuzz
