Mulder makes history on day one of Test against Zimbabwe

Wiaan Mulder marked his ascendency to captaincy by scoring an unbeaten double-century as he led South Africa to 465/4 at stumps on day one of their second test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.

Craig Ervine, Zimbabwe's captain, called correctly at the toss and asked the visitors to bat first. Mulder and South Africa responded with a dominant display. The visitors had Wiaan Mulder (264*) and Dewald Brevis (15*) at the crease at the close of play.

Mulder, who reached his maiden double century with a brilliant pull into the midwicket boundary, produced a masterful performance in his first outing as South Africa's captain. The 27-year-old was handed the reins in Keshav Maharaj's absence. The left-arm spinner withdrew from the second test due to a groin injury. The all-rounder showed great confidence in his maiden outing as South Africa’s captain.

Mulder spent 333 minutes at the crease for his 264 off 259 balls. This is Mulder's third test century, and his second at No 3. The right-hander faced 116 balls to reach the milestone. Zimbabwe peppered him with the short ball in the morning session, and he responded with an exhibition on how to score off short deliveries. The hosts cycled through various bowling plans, but none could knock Mulder down.

The hosts thought they had finally dismissed him at the back end of the day's play when Tanaka Chivanga unrooted his off-stump. However, the replay showed that the Zimbabwean pacer had overstepped, and the South African captain was asked not to vacate his place in the middle.

The newly minted South African captain collected a few records in his innings. The 27-year-old faced 214 deliveries to reach his double hundred, the second fewest balls faced by a South African batter on their way to the milestone. Mulder's tally is the most runs by a captain in their first innings leading a test side. It is also the second-highest individual score by a South African captain ever, behind Graeme Smith's 277.

South Africa was on 11/1 when Mulder walked out to bat. He had barely settled down when Zimbabwe claimed another wicket to leave South Africa on 24/2. Mulder joined hands with David Bedingham (82) to not just steady the ship, but to take the game away from the hosts. The pair stitched an outstanding 184-run third-wicket partnership.

Bedingham missed out on runs in the first test, managing only 35 runs across two innings. The No 4 batter showed that it had been a blip as he recorded his fourth test century. He faced 51 deliveries to reach the milestone. The Durham and Western Province star was trapped lbw for 82 off 101 balls.

Bedingham was replaced by Lhuan-dre Pretorius, with whom Mulder mounted a 217-run fourth-wicket partnership. Pretorius continued his great start to test cricket by registering a maiden half-century. The 19-year-old faced 58 balls to reach the milestone and was dismissed for a well-played 78 off 87 balls.

Zimbabwe's bowlers toiled hard with little success. However, Tanaka Chivanga gave the hosts reasons to smile with two wickets for 85 runs in 18 overs. Wellington Masakadza and Kundai Matigimu played their part with a wicket each.

ZIMBABWE: Tanaka Chivanga, Craig Ervine, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicolas Welch, Sean Williams.

SOUTH AFRICA: Lesego Senokwane, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kyle Verreynne, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Codi Yusuf, Prenelan Subrayen