Image: Wiaan Mulder led the charge with a stunning unbeaten balls / © ESPNCricinfo
The 2nd Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on July 6, 2025, was a cracker of a day, packed with awesome cricket! Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl, banking on some early swing in the chilly winter air. They hoped to rattle South Africa early, but man, the Proteas had other plans and led by their stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder, who played an absolute blinder, South Africa dominated, ending the day at a massive 465/4 after 88 overs. With a run rate of 5.28, they were smashing it, piling on runs like nobody’s business. Zimbabwe’s bowlers were left scratching their heads, facing a huge task to claw their way back into this one.
Zimbabwe’s skipper, Craig Ervine, won the toss and decided to bowl first on Day 1 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on July 6, 2025. With the pitch looking a bit green and known for helping seamers in the chilly winter mornings, it seemed a smart call. The surface had some grass, perfect for a bit of bounce and swing. Zimbabwe’s bowlers came out firing, and boy, did they shake things up! In the 9th over, Tanaka Chivanga got South Africa’s opener Tony de Zorzi for 10 off 30 balls. Chivanga bowled a cracking shortish ball that nipped in, catching de Zorzi by surprise as he went for a cut. The edge flew to Nick Welch, who took a ripper of a catch at backward point, leaving South Africa 11/1 and Zimbabwe buzzing!
The pressure continued as Wellington Masakadza trapped debutant Lesego Senokwane lbw for just 3 runs off 36 balls in the 14th over. Senokwane struggled against the disciplined bowling, and Masakadza’s fuller delivery pinned him on the pads, leaving South Africa at 24/2 after 13.5 overs. At this stage, Zimbabwe’s decision to bowl first seemed justified, with their seamers, led by Chivanga and Blessing Muzarabani, maintaining tight lines and exploiting the early conditions. The tide began to turn with the arrival of Wiaan Mulder and David Bedingham at the crease.
The duo forged a crucial third-wicket partnership that not only steadied the innings but also shifted the momentum firmly in South Africa’s favor and their 184-run stand off 243 balls was a masterclass in a patient yet aggressive batting. Mulder, leading the side in place of the injured Keshav Maharaj, played with remarkable composure, while Bedingham adopted a more attacking approach. Mulder reached his fifty off 53 balls, including seven fours and a six, showcasing his ability to punish loose deliveries.
His cover drives and flicks were particularly eye-catching, as he capitalized on anything too full or straying in line. Bedingham, equally impressive, brought up his fifty off 51 balls with five fours, driving elegantly and handling Zimbabwe’s short-ball strategy with ease. By lunch, South Africa had reached 113/2 in 28 overs, with Mulder on 60 and Bedingham on 40. The partnership had already added 100 runs in 109 balls, setting a solid platform. Post-lunch, the pair continued their dominance.
Mulder’s confidence grew, and he reached his century off 116 balls with 13 fours and a six, a milestone celebrated with a massive six over midwicket off Masakadza. Bedingham, meanwhile, kept the scoreboard ticking with crisp shot-making, though he fell just short of a century. In the 50th over, Chivanga trapped him lbw for 82 off 101 balls, ending the partnership at 184. Bedingham’s knock included seven fours, and his dismissal gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope at 208/3. With Bedingham gone, Lhuan-dre Pretorius joined Mulder, and the two continued to pile on the runs.
Their fourth-wicket partnership of 217 runs off 187 balls was a blend of Mulder’s relentless accumulation and Pretorius’s fearless stroke play. Mulder, unperturbed by the loss of Bedingham, reached 150 off 167 balls and then 200 off 214 balls, showcasing his stamina and focus. His 264 not out by the close of play included 34 fours and three sixes, a monumental effort that broke the record for the highest individual score in a player’s first Test as captain, surpassing Graham Dowling’s 239 from 1968. Lhuan-dre Pretorius came out swinging after his 153 in the first Test, smashing a confident fifty off 58 balls with five fours and two sixes.
His aggressive style shone through with a gorgeous lofted cover drive and a huge six off Wellington Masakadza, stepping out to clear deep midwicket like it was nothing. But his fun ended at 78 off 87 balls when Kundai Matigimu got him caught by Masakadza in the 81st over, leaving South Africa at 425/4. Zimbabwe grabbed the second new ball in the 82nd over but couldn’t make it count. Dewald Brevis, unbeaten on 15 off 16 with two fours, looked classy with bold shots. Wiaan Mulder kept hammering away, hitting 250 off 243 balls, leaving Zimbabwe’s bowlers knackered.
Bad light stopped play at 88 overs, with South Africa cruising at 465/4 and a run rate of 5.28. Zimbabwe’s bowlers put in a big shift on Day 1 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on July 6, 2025, but couldn’t quite keep things tight and Tanaka Chivanga was the standout, bagging 2/85 in 18 overs, nabbing Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham. His early bounce and swing had the South African batsmen hopping, but he lost some steam later on. Blessing Muzarabani worked hard, sending down 19 overs and bowling four maidens, but ended up with 0/79.
His plan to bang it in short didn’t click, and he sprayed the ball a bit, especially from around the wicket. The bowlers gave it their all, but staying consistent was tough, and South Africa’s batsmen made them pay. Wellington Masakadza took 1/152 in 28 overs, dismissing Senokwane but leaking runs as Mulder and Pretorius attacked his spin. Debutant Kundai Matigimu claimed Pretorius’s wicket but was expensive, conceding 77 runs in 13.3 overs. Wessly Madhevere and Dion Myers were also tried but went for 47 and 14 runs respectively without success.
Zimbabwe came out swinging on Day 1 of the 2nd Test in Bulawayo, and their early breakthroughs snagged the TCNI Magic Moment of the Day. They won the toss, chose to bowl, and boy, did they make South Africa sweat early! In just 13.5 overs, they had the Proteas at 24/2. First up, in the 9th over, Tanaka Chivanga got Tony de Zorzi for 10 off 30 balls.
He bowled a spicy, shortish ball that moved in, and de Zorzi’s edge flew to Nick Welch, who took a cracking catch at backward point. Then, in the 14th over, Wellington Masakadza nailed debutant Lesego Senokwane lbw for 3 off 36 balls with a full one that trapped him plumb. Chivanga’s 2/85 and Masakadza’s 1/152 lit up the crowd, giving Zimbabwe a real shot of hope.
Wiaan Mulder was the absolute star, hands-down earning TCNI’s Hero of the Day with an unreal 264 not out. South Africa’s stand-in captain faced 259 balls, hammering 34 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 101.93. His epic knock drove South Africa to 465/4 in 88 overs, with a run rate of 5.28. After those early wickets left them at 24/2, Mulder took over. He got to fifty off 53 balls.
He then cruised to a hundred off 116 balls. His innings included 13 fours and a six. He kept going, hitting 150 off 167 balls, 200 off 214, and 250 off 243. He broke the record for a captain’s highest score in their first Test innings and his big partnerships with David Bedingham (184 runs) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (217 runs) wore out Zimbabwe’s bowlers, especially Masakadza, who got smashed for 152 runs in 28 overs. Mulder was a beast!
South Africa is in a sweet spot going into Day 2 on July 7, 2025 and Wiaan Mulder’s still there, smashing it on 264, and with blokes like Kyle Verreynne and Corbin Bosch waiting to bat, they could rack up 600 or more, no sweat and Zimbabwe, still smarting from that 328-run hiding in the first Test, need to grab wickets quick to have a hope and their bowlers, like Tanaka Chivanga and Blessing Muzarabani, have to make early magic happen, maybe with some swing or seam while the pitch still has a bit of life. When Zimbabwe bats, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine need to dig in deep to avoid another pasting. It’s a tough slog, but a couple of early wickets could fire them up!