South Africa, led by debutant captain Wiaan Mulder, secured a comprehensive victory over Zimbabwe in the second test match at Bulawayo, winning by an innings and 236 runs to complete a two-test series sweep. Mulder’s outstanding performance included an unbeaten 367 runs, three wickets, and three catches, leading South Africa to their tenth consecutive test victory.Mulder’s remarkable innings of 367 not out stands as the fifth-highest individual test score in history, falling just 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s world record. His contribution helped South Africa declare at 626-5.Zimbabwe struggled throughout the match, managing only 170 runs in their first innings and 220 in the second after being forced to follow on. Their combined total of 390 runs was merely 23 more than Mulder’s individual score.“It was super special (to be captain). It’s something I had dreamt of as a kid,” Mulder told broadcaster SuperSport. “To captain your country is one of the biggest honors you can get as a cricketer. So it was a super proud moment for me and my family and I am glad I could make the guys proud.”
The third day began with Zimbabwe at 51-1, losing Sean Williams early when Mulder bowled him for 11. Nick Welch reached his third half-century but fell shortly after lunch for 55, caught by Mulder off Senuran Muthusamy’s bowling.Zimbabwe’s captain Craig Ervine showed resistance with a 95-ball innings of 49, but the team suffered a collapse losing seven wickets for 67 runs in 28 overs.
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The bowling honors were shared between Corbin Bosch (4-38), Codi Yusuf (2-38), and Muthusamy (3-77).Mulder took charge of the team in the absence of injured regulars Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, proving himself as a capable leader.The defeat extended Zimbabwe’s winless streak in Bulawayo to 22 tests since 2001, with 17 of those being losses.This series marked South Africa’s first test tour to Zimbabwe in 11 years, though the matches weren’t counted in the World Test Championship as Zimbabwe isn’t part of the WTC.The South African team will remain in Zimbabwe for an upcoming Twenty20 tri-series featuring New Zealand.
