Mulder's 147 gives Zimbabwe improbable target of 537

Wiaan Mulder's second Test hundred and a quick fifty from Keshav Maharaj powered South Africa on Day 3 of the first Test against Zimbabwe as they piled on a massive lead. Mulder's career-best 147 was the backbone of South Africa's second innings as they finished with 369, leaving Zimbabwe with a huge target of 537. Zimbabwe were 32 for 1 in reply at the end of the day's play in Bulawayo on Monday (June 30).

Starting the day at 49 for 1, Mulder and Tony de Zorzi began positively but their partnership ended on 63 when the latter was caught at second slip off Tanaka Chivanga. The pacer found the edge on multiple occasions but luckily for the South African batters, they fell short of the fielders as Mulder and David Bedingham forged a strong partnership to power the visiting side forward. With Blessing Muzarabani not taking the field as he was unwell, Zimbabwe were down to only one pace option in Chivanga who bowled well from one end but the hosts leaked runs from the other. Bedingham pulled Wellington Masakadza for a six before Mulder also dispatched a half-tracker over the fence to bring up his fifty.

The boundaries came regularly as the third wicket pair put on a quick 72-run stand, which ended when Bedingham found deep midwicket off Masakadza attempting a pull. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who scored a century in his maiden innings, fell early in the second when he was bowled by a beauty from Vincent Masekesa. Dewald Brevis also had a short stay, with Masekesa having him bowled trying to play across the line as South Africa slipped to 155 for 5. Mulder, though, continued batting positively as he struck a flurry of boundaries, including one in the last over before Lunch off Chivanga that helped him bring up a 100, taking the lead past 350 in the process.

Mulder scored the bulk of the runs in his stand with Kyle Verreynne as they extended South Africa's lead in the second session. They maintained a good frequency of boundaries while Mulder also struck another six Masekesa, with the pair taking the lead past the 400 mark. They brought up a century stand in quick time before Mulder, who was looking good for a 150, fell three short of it when he was caught at deep midwicket off Wessly Madhevere. Verreynne fell in the next over to Masakadza, edging to slip on 36, to leave South Africa seven down. Maharaj and Corbin Bosch then struck seven fours between them, with the stand-in Test skipper also hitting a six, as they put on a brisk stand to take the lead past 500 before Tea.

Maharaj brought up his fifty early in the third session but Zimbabwe hit back with quick wickets. Bosch was bowled by Masakadza after missing a sweep while Maharaj danced down the track to the same bowler only to be bowled. Muzarabani who returned to the field shortly before Tea, bagged the final wicket by castling Maphaka, having earlier been denied the wicket of Bosch as he had over-stepped.

Zimbabwe's openers Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Prince Masvaure survived a testing 18-over period as they kept the South African bowlers at bay. The pacers troubled the openers while Maharaj later created a chance but Tony de Zorzi put down a tough chance at short leg to reprieve Masvaure. A short while later, the ball pitched just short of him when Kaitano looked to clip one away off Bosch. But the batter fell in the last over of the day, edging a Bosch delivery that nipped away a touch, rounding off another good day's play for the 2025 WTC winners.

Brief scores: South Africa 418/9 decl. & 369 (Wiaan Mulder 147, Keshav Maharaj 51; Wellington Masakadza 4-98) lead Zimbabwe 251 & 32/1 (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 12; Corbin Bosch 1-1) by 504 runs.