South Africa Seizes Command After Day 1 Against Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO: On the first day of the second Test against Zimbabwe, South Africa’s captain, Wiaan Mulder, exhibited a batting spectacle. He remained undefeated with a remarkable 264*, steering his team to a formidable 465/4 at stumps at Queens Sports Club.

The all-rounder, captaining the Test side for the first time, received significant contributions from David Bedingham (82) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (78), as the Proteas dominated the Zimbabwean bowlers throughout the day’s play.

However, South Africa’s innings did not begin flawlessly. Opener Tony de Zorzi survived an initial scare, narrowly avoiding a catch through the slip cordon.

Debutant pacer Kundai Matigimu commenced with a noteworthy maiden over, but it was Tanaka Chivanga who made the initial breakthrough, dismissing de Zorzi with a well-executed delivery to backward point.

Lesego Senokwane, after a painstaking 36-ball innings for three runs, was soon adjudged LBW.

With the score at 40/2, Mulder partnered with Bedingham, and together they swiftly altered the game’s momentum.

Bedingham showcased his aggressive intentions early on with three successive boundaries off Matigimu, while Mulder soon followed suit with a four and a six. Their attacking play resulted in frequent boundaries, with Mulder achieving his half-century before the Lunch interval.

Bedingham reached his fifty shortly after the break, and the pair escalated their scoring rate. Mulder particularly excelled on the off-side, unleashing a flurry of impressive backfoot shots and cover drives.

He achieved his century, a significant milestone on his captaincy debut, during the second session.

While Bedingham maintained the scoreboard’s momentum with astute running between the wickets, he was eventually dismissed for 82, trapped LBW. Pretorius then took over, striking 15 runs in a single over from Wellington Masakadza.

Mulder, meanwhile, maintained complete command, reaching 150 with back-to-back boundaries before the Tea break.

The relentless scoring continued into the final session. Mulder and Pretorius accumulated runs effortlessly, both finding the boundary in almost every over.

Pretorius achieved his fifty with a textbook straight drive before Mulder surged to his double century in just 214 balls, dispatching a short delivery to the boundary.

Zimbabwe struggled with their bowling consistency, frequently conceding runs at a high rate per over. Matigimu eventually secured a breakthrough, dismissing Pretorius for 78, claiming his first Test wicket.

The home side missed a crucial opportunity late in the day when Chivanga overstepped, granting Mulder a reprieve on what could have been a late dismissal. The Proteas captain soon surpassed his 250 and remained unbeaten at the day’s end.

South Africa enters Day 2 firmly in control of the match, largely due to Mulder’s monumental innings, which stands as the highest score by a debutant captain in Test cricket.