DAY 2: Williams strikes ton, but Mulder grabs three wickets
Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams struck an undefeated 114 – his sixth test century – but Wiaan Mulder claimed three wickets to keep South Africa in command of the first test at tea on the second day at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.
At the break, Zimbabwe had reached 212 for six wickets, 206 runs in arrears after South Africa declared their first innings closed at the start of the day on 418 for nine.
Resuming on their lunch total of 94 for two, skipper Craig Ervine was the first wicket to fall when left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj lured him down the pitch with a flighted delivery that turned through the gate leaving an easy stumping chance for wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne. This was Maharaj’s 200th test scalp. The left-arm spinner has taken the most wickets of any South African spinner, well ahead of Hugh Tayfield with 170. Ervine struck 36 in 90 balls and helped Williams add 91 in 160 balls for the fourth wicket.
The scoring rate increased with the arrival of Wessly Madhevere as Williams went onto the attack, scoring freely square of the wicket to both leg and off. The pair added 48 in 55 balls before Mulder – who had changed from the Airport to the more productive City End – swung a delivery in late to trap Madhevere plumb leg before for 15.
2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) June 29, 2025
Keshav Maharaj joins an elite club of @ProteasMenCSA bowlers 💪🇿🇦#ZIMvSA | #SSCricket pic.twitter.com/5yn8LnqUJ5
This began an excellent period for the fast-medium pace bowler in which he claimed 3/22 in five overs, also grabbing the wickets of concussion substitute (for Brian Bennett) Prince Masvaure, caught behind by Verreynne, and Tafadzwa Tsiga, caught via a leading edge by Codi Yusuf at point. At tea, Mulder had figures of 3/41 in 12 overs with Maharaj the only other wicket-taker with 1/69 in 15 overs.
But Williams provided the thread that kept his innings and that of Zimbabwe going, finishing on 114 not out in 140 balls at tea, including 13 fours. He is partnered by Wellington Masakadza on four.
ZIMBABWE: Brian Bennett, Takudzawanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (capt), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Tanaka Chivanga, Blessing Muzarabani
SOUTH AFRICA: Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka
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