South Africa – 465-4 in 88 overs (Wiaan Mulder 264*, David Bedingham 82, Lhuan-dre Pretorius 78; Tanaka Chivanga 2/85, Kundai Matigimu 1/77, Wellington Masakadza 1/152)
Zimbabwe –
Day 1 – Stumps
Zimbabwe experienced a tough shift in the field as Wiaan Mulder scored an unbeaten 264 to power South Africa to a commanding 465 for four at stumps on the opening day of the second Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.
The hosts made two changes to their XI, with Dion Myers replacing the unwell Prince Masvaure, while pace bowler Kundai Matigimu came in for his Test debut in place of Vincent Masekesa.
South Africa, too, were forced into a change of leadership, with Mulder taking over as captain after Keshav Maharaj withdrew due to a strain.
Craig Ervine won the toss for Zimbabwe and elected to bowl first.
That decision looked promising early on, as Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga bowled tightly, restricting South Africa to just 11 runs in the first nine overs.
The breakthrough came when Tony de Zorzi slashed at a short, wide delivery from Chivanga and was brilliantly caught by Nick Welch in the gully for 10.
Lesego Senokwane followed soon after for three off 36 balls, trapped lbw by Wellington Masakadza while attempting a sweep, and South Africa found themselves on the back foot at 24 for two.
Mulder had already made a positive start to his innings and was soon joined by the aggressive David Bedingham, who took the pressure off with three consecutive boundaries off Matigimu.
The pair quickly shifted the momentum, guiding South Africa to 113 for two by lunch, with Mulder on 60 and Bedingham 40.
Although the hosts tightened up somewhat after the break, they could not prevent Mulder from reaching his second successive century, this one coming off 116 deliveries.
Bedingham looked well set for a century himself, but on 82 off 101 balls, he was trapped lbw by a sharp Chivanga delivery.
Their 184-run stand for the third wicket had done the damage.
At tea, the visitors had progressed to 243 for three, with Mulder on 133 and Lhuan-dre Pretorius on 13.
The fourth-wicket partnership continued to grow after the interval, with only a couple of difficult half-chances offered.
Pretorius reached his half-century off 58 balls, while Mulder powered on to 200 off 214 as Zimbabwe’s bowlers toiled in increasingly hot and unforgiving conditions.
Pretorius was eventually dismissed for 78 off 87 balls, skying a catch to mid-on where Masakadza took a well-judged catch – giving Matigimu his first wicket in Test cricket.
Their stand of 217 runs had further cemented South Africa’s dominance.
At the close of play, the visitors sat on a commanding 465 for four, with Dewald Brevis on 15 and Mulder still unbeaten on a monumental 264.
