DAY 2: Williams hits defiant ton, but Mulder keeps Proteas on top

Sean Williams struck a superb century, his sixth in tests, but it was Wiaan Mulder who kept South Africa in the box seat with a four-wicket haul and important runs at the end of the second day of the first test between Zimbabwe and South Africa at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.

At the close, South Africa had reached 49 for one in their second innings – an overall lead of 216 – with Mulder unbeaten on 25 in an unbroken 48-run partnership with Tony de Zorzi (22) after Matthew Breetzke had fallen for a single after edging Tinaka Chivanga to gully.

Once again, the Zimbabwean strike bowlers caused problems for the South African batters with the new ball. Although Chivanga got the sole wicket, it was Blessing Muzarabani who most impressed in his seven overs, gaining awkward lift and generally bowling a good line and length. The batters were relieved to leave the field after bad light cut short play by seven overs.

Earlier, the left-handed Williams almost single-handedly kept the home side in the game with an excellent 137 in 164 balls (16 fours) in a total of 251, more than half the runs scored, after South Africa declared overnight on their first innings total of 418 for nine, with Corbin Bosch undefeated on 100, his debut test ton and his first hundred at any level.

The tourists made an early breakthrough in the opening over of the Zimbabwe innings when debutant Codi Yusuf had opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano taken at midwicket after he chipped a catch off an innocuous delivery to midwicket. It was the softest of dismissals.

That blow was quickly followed by the dismissal of Nicholas Welch, caught behind flashing at a short, wide delivery from Yusuf. That made the total 23 for two and worse was to follow for the home team when a sharply rising delivery from Kwena Maphaka struck opener Brian Bennett squarely on his helmet after he was late on his hook shot. The dazed Zimbabwe opener, who had struck four excellent boundaries, was assessed and cleared but, two overs later, he decided to leave the field still suffering from the after-effects of the blow. He was later deemed to be unable to continue in the match and was replaced by concussion substitute Prince Masvaure.

South Africa were now right on top but Williams and skipper Craig Ervine stopped the rot, taking the total to 94 for two at lunch. Initially, they were solid in defence, particularly against tight spells from Mulder (0/14 in five overs) and Bosch (0/11 in four overs). But the Proteas’ bowlers were unable to get as much assistance from the pitch as Chivanga and Muzarabani had the previous day.

Williams, strong off the back foot, struck six fours in his unbeaten 45 in 59 balls while Ervine gave him solid support in a subsidiary role as he reached 24 in 70 balls at the break.

Skipper Keshav Maharaj gave himself three overs before lunch and caused a couple of awkward moments while Yusuf, the Proteas’ most dangerous bowler in the session (2/30 off 10 overs) managed to discomfort the batters in a brief second spell in which he managed some sharp lift off a length.

Ervine was the first wicket to fall after lunch when Maharaj lured him down the pitch with a beautifully flighted delivery that turned through the gate leaving an easy stumping chance for wicketkeeper Verreynne. That 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 receptive City End – swung a delivery in late to trap Madhevere leg before.

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 Masvaure, caught behind by Verreynne, and Tafadzwa Tsiga, caught via a leading edge by Yusuf at point.

It was now almost a solo show from Williams as the Zimbabwe middle-order and tail fell away with only Vincent Masekesa (11) reaching double-figures. Maharaj claimed his second important wicket when he had Williams stumped by Verreynne in a virtual replay of his earlier dismissal of Ervine. Williams, who had played with supreme assurance under considerable pressure, departed to a hero’s reception from the crowd.

But the left-hander’s departure signalled the impending demise of the innings as Mulder (4/50 in 16 overs) and Maharaj (3/70 in 16.4 overs) cleaned up the tail. Yusuf also made an important contribution, claiming 3/42. Maphaka went wicketless, but improved as the day went on, also hitting the helmet of Williams with a ferocious bouncer.

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