Image: South Africa thrashed Zimbabwe in the second Test at Bulawayo / © ESPNCricinfo
After dominating the first two days of the second Test match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on July 8, 2025, South Africa wrapped up a crushing victory over Zimbabwe by an innings and 236 runs, sealing the series 2-0. Day 3 was all about South Africa’s bowlers finishing the job, as Zimbabwe, forced to follow on after a poor first innings, fought hard but couldn’t avoid defeat. The Proteas’ relentless attack, led by Corbin Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy, made quick work of Zimbabwe’s second innings, ending the match in just over two sessions.
Zimbabwe started Day 3 at 51/1 in their second innings, trailing by 405 runs after South Africa’s massive 626/5 declared, powered by Mulder’s historic knock. The hosts needed a miracle to save the game, with Takudzwanashe Kaitano (34 not out) and Nick Welch (6 not out) at the crease. South Africa, fresh off enforcing the follow-on, came out with purpose, knowing early wickets could end the match quickly. The pitch, while flat, offered enough for the bowlers if they hit the right lengths, and the Proteas were determined to keep the pressure on.
The morning session began with South Africa’s bowlers, particularly Bosch and Codi Yusuf, probing for breakthroughs. Kaitano and Welch showed some grit, trying to settle in and frustrate the visitors. Kaitano, who had been dismissed for a duck in the first innings, looked more composed, playing with caution and picking off loose balls. By the 23rd over, Zimbabwe reached 64/1, with Kaitano on 40, showing fight with five fours. But Muthusamy struck a big blow, getting Kaitano caught by Dewald Brevis at short midwicket for 40 off 76 balls, ending his resistance and leaving Zimbabwe at 64/2.
Sean Williams, Zimbabwe’s best batter, came in next, and South Africa knew he was the key. Williams started aggressively, smashing two fours in his first ten balls, but Mulder, leading from the front, got him in the 28th over. A sharp delivery bowled Williams for 11, leaving Zimbabwe at 103/3. This was a huge moment, as Williams’ quick 83 not out in the first innings had shown his danger. His dismissal shifted momentum firmly back to South Africa, and the Proteas sensed the end was near.
Nick Welch, meanwhile, kept fighting, reaching his fifty just before lunch off 104 balls with three fours and two sixes. He and captain Craig Ervine added 50 runs for the fourth wicket, taking Zimbabwe to 143/3 at the lunch break, with Welch on 53 and Ervine on 21. The hosts were still 131 runs behind, but their steady batting gave a glimmer of hope. South Africa, however, stayed patient, knowing they had plenty of runs to play with and time on their side.
After lunch, South Africa turned up the heat. Muthusamy struck early in the third over of the session, getting Welch for 55 off 126 balls, caught by Mulder at slip after a leading edge. This sparked a collapse, as Zimbabwe’s middle order crumbled under pressure. Wessly Madhevere, who had scored 25 in the first innings, fell for 5 in the 52nd over, trapped lbw by Yusuf, leaving Zimbabwe at 166/5. The scoring slowed as Ervine and Tafadzwa Tsiga tried to hang on, but Yusuf struck again, getting Tsiga caught at short midwicket for just 1 off 20 balls in the 58th over, making it 177/6.
Ervine, fighting a lone battle, reached 49 off 95 balls with six fours, but Bosch ended his stay in the 64th over, caught behind by Kyle Verreynne, leaving Zimbabwe at 182/7. The same over saw Kundai Matigimu bowled for a duck, and Bosch struck again in the 68th over, dismissing Blessing Muzarabani for 0, caught by Lesego Senokwane. Zimbabwe were now 184/9, staring at defeat. A stubborn last-wicket stand between Wellington Masakadza (17 not out off 62 balls) and Tanaka Chivanga (22 off 26 balls, with three fours and a six) frustrated South Africa for nearly nine overs, adding 36 runs.
But Muthusamy ended it in the 77th over, getting Chivanga caught by Mulder, wrapping up Zimbabwe’s innings at 220. South Africa’s bowlers shared the spoils. Bosch was the standout with 4/38 in 19 overs, his pace and accuracy troubling the batters. Muthusamy’s 3/77 in 19.3 overs included key wickets, while Yusuf’s 2/38 and Mulder’s 1/24 added to the pressure. Prenelan Subrayen, who took 4/42 in the first innings, went wicketless but bowled tightly with 0/36 in 14 overs. The Proteas’ disciplined bowling and sharp fielding ensured Zimbabwe couldn’t build big partnerships, with the 50-run stand between Welch and Ervine being their best effort.
Zimbabwe’s second innings lasted 77.3 overs, but their total of 220 was nowhere near enough to challenge South Africa’s massive lead. The hosts’ first innings of 170, despite Williams’ 83 not out, had left them too far behind, and the follow-on only piled on the pressure. South Africa’s decision to declare at 626/5, driven by Mulder’s 367 not out, was a masterstroke, giving their bowlers enough time to dominate. Mulder’s knock, with 49 fours and four sixes, set a new South African record, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311, and his all-round show (531 runs and seven wickets in the series) earned him both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
The player who has got the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day award is Nick Welch for his gritty 55 off 126 balls in Zimbabwe’s second innings during the second Test against South Africa in Bulawayo on July 8, 2025. Facing a massive deficit after South Africa’s 626/5 and Zimbabwe’s first innings collapse to 170, Welch’s determined knock kept the hosts in the fight. Starting Day 3 at 51/1, Welch played with patience, hitting three fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 43.65.
His 50-run stand with captain Craig Ervine for the fourth wicket took Zimbabwe to 153/4 by the 49th over, giving them hope of delaying defeat. Welch reached his fifty off 104 balls, showing resilience on a pitch where South Africa’s bowlers, led by Corbin Bosch, were relentless. Though he fell to Senuran Muthusamy, caught by Wiaan Mulder at slip for 55, his effort kept Zimbabwe’s innings alive, pushing the match into the post-lunch session.
For his amazing bowling and earning the TCNI’s Hero of the Day award, Corbin Bosch was the star of South Africa’s dominant performance in Zimbabwe’s second innings during the second Test in Bulawayo on July 8, 2025. Bosch took 4 wickets for 38 runs in 19 overs, bowling eight maidens with an economy of just 2.00. His first breakthrough came in the 9th over, dismissing Dion Myers for 11, bowled, leaving Zimbabwe at 31/1. In the 64th over, he got captain Craig Ervine caught behind for 49, a big wicket that left Zimbabwe at 182/7.
Moments later, he bowled Kundai Matigimu for a duck, and in the 68th over, he had Blessing Muzarabani caught for 0, reducing Zimbabwe to 184/9. His tight bowling and key scalps broke Zimbabwe’s resistance, stopping partnerships on a pitch offering some help. Bosch’s efforts helped South Africa wrap up Zimbabwe’s innings at 220 in 77.3 overs, securing a crushing innings and 236-run victory in just over two sessions on Day 3.