South Africa players celebrating a wicket on Day 3 [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/x]
South Africa minced hosts Zimbabwe by an innings and 236 runs on Day 3 of the second Test to secure the two-match series by a 2-0 margin. Wiaan Mulder’s record-shattering triple ton was followed by some dazzling bowling displays by Corbin Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy in the decisive innings of the match.
Here, we take a look at the highlights of the second Test, as it panned out at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo between Sunday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 8.
Corbin Bosch, Cody Yusuf Skittle Zimbabwe
Resuming the innings at 51-1 on Day 3 in pursuit of another 405 runs just to avoid an innings defeat, Zimbabwe folded up for 220 in 77.3 overs. For South Africa, left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy got rid of both Zimbabwe overnight batters, Takudzwanashe Kaitano (40) and Nick Welch (55).
Codi Yusuf wrecked Zimbabwe’s middle-order with the wickets of Wessly Madhevere and Tafadzwa Tsiga in quick succession before fast bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch mopped up the tail with three wickets in a single spell. Zimbabwe’s final wicket pair of Wellington Masakadza and Tanaka Chivanga hung around for a while, but a third wicket for Muthusamy wrapped up their innings for just 220.
Wiaan Mulder 367* Steals Show, Shatters Records
South Africa’s interim captain Wiaan Mulder started off the match by mounting one of Test cricket’s highest individual scores, that of 367* off 334 balls with 49 fours and four sixes. Quick half-centuries from David Bedingham and Lhuan-dre Pretorius further extended South Africa’s first innings total to a colossal 626-5d in 114 overs at a run rate of 5.49.
Later in the first Zimbabwe innings, South Africa spinner Prenelan Subrayen picked up four wickets, with captain Mulder taking two to shoot out the hosts for just 170, thus securing a huge 456-run lead at the end of the first innings.