Image: Test match between South Africa and Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club / © ESPNCricinfo
The Test match between South Africa and Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, saw Day 3 on June 30, 2025, dominated by South Africa’s strong batting and tight bowling. Starting their second innings at 49/1, the Proteas piled on runs to set Zimbabwe a massive target of 537. By stumps, Zimbabwe were struggling at 32/1 in their second innings, needing 505 more runs to win, with South Africa in firm control of this World Test Championship clash.
South Africa kicked off Day 3 at 49/1, with Tony de Zorzi on 22 and Wiaan Mulder on 25. They looked steady, adding 15 runs before de Zorzi got out for 31, facing 35 balls and hitting three fours. Tanaka Chivanga got him, caught by Sean Williams at slip in the 18th over. David Bedingham came in and played aggressively, putting on 72 runs with Mulder for the third wicket. Bedingham scored a quick 35 off 39 balls, with four fours and a six, but he mistimed a pull shot off Wellington Masakadza’s short ball and was caught at midwicket in the 32nd over.
Things got shaky for South Africa as Lhuan-dre Pretorius was bowled for 4 by Vincent Masekesa’s spinning delivery, and Dewald Brevis fell for 3, also to Masekesa, trying a risky shot. Mulder stayed calm, reaching his fifty with a six off Masakadza in the 24th over. By lunch, South Africa were 185/5, with Mulder unbeaten on 104 and Kyle Verreynne on 5. Their lead was 352, and the run rate of 4.45 kept Zimbabwe’s bowlers working hard. After lunch, Mulder and Verreynne took control, adding a solid 104 runs for the sixth wicket. Mulder played a brilliant knock, scoring 147 off 206 balls, with 17 fours and two sixes, before he was caught at deep midwicket off Wessly Madhevere in the 59th over.
Verreynne made 36 off 56 balls, hitting three fours, but edged Masakadza to slip soon after. South Africa reached 259/7, with their lead closing in on 400. Then Keshav Maharaj, the captain, and Corbin Bosch stepped up, smashing 92 runs together for the eighth wicket. Maharaj raced to 51 off 70 balls, with four fours and a six, reaching his fifty in 64 balls. Bosch chipped in with 36 off 41 balls, including four fours. Masakadza struck back, bowling both Bosch and Maharaj, finishing with 4 wickets for 98 runs.
Blessing Muzarabani wrapped things up by getting Kwena Maphaka for 8 off 14 balls, with a six, as South Africa ended at 369 in 82.5 overs. Chivanga took 2/76, and Masekesa got 2/117, but Zimbabwe’s bowlers gave away nine extras, including five leg byes and two no-balls. South Africa’s strong batting, led by Mulder’s big hundred, set Zimbabwe a massive 537-run target, putting them in a tough spot.
Zimbabwe started their chase of 537 late on Day 3, crawling to 32/1 in 18.2 overs at a slow run rate of 1.74. Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Prince Masvaure, who came in as a concussion substitute for Brian Bennett, opened the batting. Kaitano found it tough, scoring just 12 runs off 62 balls before Corbin Bosch got him out, caught by Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the 18th over. Masvaure played it safe, staying not out on 5 off 49 balls, focusing on survival. Nick Welch was still to bat, with big names like Sean Williams and Craig Ervine waiting. South Africa’s bowlers were on top, with Bosch bowling tightly for 1/1.
Wiaan Mulder was super economical, giving away just 2 runs in his 4 overs. Codi Yusuf bowled 4 overs for 5 runs, Kwena Maphaka gave up 9 runs in 3 overs, and Keshav Maharaj kept things tight with 6 runs in 5 overs. The pitch had some bounce, which helped South Africa’s seamers, and Zimbabwe’s batters looked nervous. They got 15 extras, including 5 byes, 5 leg byes, 1 no-ball, and 5 wides, but their slow scoring showed how hard the chase was going to be, with 505 runs still needed and only nine wickets left.
For the Zimbabwe team, the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game goes to Wellington Masakadza, whose brilliant bowling sparked a comeback on Day 3 of the Test match against South Africa on June 30, 2025, at Bulawayo. The left-arm spinner took 4 wickets for 98 runs in 22 overs, giving Zimbabwe hope against South Africa’s strong batting. His effort stood out as he broke key partnerships and slowed the Proteas’ charge. Masakadza’s first big moment came in the 32nd over when he dismissed David Bedingham for 35, caught at midwicket after a quick 72-run stand with Wiaan Mulder.
This triggered a mini-collapse, with South Africa slipping from 136/2 to 155/5. Masakadza struck again, removing Kyle Verreynne for 36, caught at slip, breaking a 104-run sixth-wicket partnership. Later, he bowled Corbin Bosch for 36 and Keshav Maharaj for 51 in quick succession, finishing off South Africa’s tail at 369 in 82.5 overs. His spin troubled the batters, and his tight lines kept the run rate in check at 4.45. Despite South Africa’s massive 536-run lead, Masakadza’s four wickets gave Zimbabwe a fighting chance, lifting spirits in a tough match.
The man who has got TCNI’s Hero of the Day Award is Wiaan Mulder, whose brilliant 147 changed the game for South Africa on Day 3 of the Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on June 30, 2025. His century helped South Africa build a massive 536-run lead, setting a daunting target of 537. Starting at 25 not out, Mulder batted for 236 minutes, facing 206 balls, hitting 17 fours and two sixes, with a strike rate of 71.35. His knock was the backbone of South Africa’s second innings total of 369 in 82.5 overs, at a run rate of 4.45.
Mulder’s partnerships were key. He added 72 runs with David Bedingham (35 off 39) and a crucial 104 runs with Kyle Verreynne (36 off 56), taking South Africa from 155/5 to 259/6. His fifty came with a six off Wellington Masakadza, and he reached his hundred off 149 balls, driving the lead past 350 by lunch. Even after Verreynne’s dismissal, Mulder kept going, guiding South Africa to a commanding position. He finally fell in the 59th over, caught off Wessly Madhevere for 147, but not before ensuring a healthy lead.
Day 3 was all about South Africa’s control. They started at 49/1 and built their lead with Wiaan Mulder’s fantastic 147, which included 17 fours and two sixes. His partnerships with Bedingham (72 runs), Verreynne (104 runs), and Maharaj-Bosch (92 runs) pushed South Africa to 369, setting a huge target. Keshav Maharaj’s quick 51 and Corbin Bosch’s 36 added pressure on Zimbabwe. Wellington Masakadza tried hard for Zimbabwe, taking 4/98, but their bowling wasn’t consistent, and they gave away extras. Blessing Muzarabani, back after being unwell, took 1/38, but Chivanga and Masekesa were costly.
Zimbabwe’s chase started slowly, with Kaitano’s dismissal showing South Africa’s bowling strength. The Zimbabwe team will be looking forward to be positive for the run chase while going deep as they are chasing a big score against the quality bowling of the South African team right now. On the other hand, the South African team will be looking to be patient against the batting lineup of Zimbabwe and they would believe that quick wickets early on the day 4 will be the key for them to get in this game.