Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
WIAAN Mulder walked into the middle at 11/1, took guard, and simply never left.
The stand-in Proteas captain produced a commanding, career defining double century as South Africa dominated the opening day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Sunday. By stumps, Mulder was unbeaten on 264, steering his side to a daunting 465/4 and etching his name into the record books.
Elevated to captaincy in the absence of the injured Keshav Maharaj, Mulder responded with one of the finest knocks by a Test skipper on debut. His 264 not out is now the highest score by a player in their first innings as captain, surpassing Graham Dowling’s 239 for New Zealand against India in 1968.
He joins elite company too, becoming only the third player to notch a double ton on Test captaincy debut. The others? West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored 203* against South Africa in 2005, and the now outclassed Dowling.
Mulder’s innings, which included 259 deliveries, was the bedrock of two massive partnerships that blunted Zimbabwe’s early hopes and turned the day into a one sided affair.
“I’m chuffed for him. I know how hard he has worked over the past five years. I’m really happy for him,” said David
Bedingham, who added 82 runs off 101 balls in a 184 run third wicket stand with the captain.
Mulder then found another reliable partner in teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who impressed with a fluent 78 off 87 deliveries on debut. Their 217 run partnership for the fourth wicket all but batted Zimbabwe out of the contest.
Pretorius eventually fell to debutant Kundai Matigimu, caught after a bright and promising knock.
Zimbabwe briefly threatened with the ball early in the morning. After winning the toss and choosing to field, they had South Africa at 24/2 inside 14 overs. But the pressure faded fast.
“We thought bowling first was the best chance to make early inroads,” said Zimbabwe bowling coach Charl Langeveldt.
“We started well and just let it go again. The opening spell was great, but we couldn’t back it up.”
Tanaka Chivanga had a mixed day, removing both Bedingham and another batter to finish with 2/85 in 18 overs. He also thought he had bowled Mulder in the 84th over, only for the joy to be cut short by a no ball.
Wellington Masakadza and Matigimu picked up a wicket each, but Zimbabwe’s bowling effort quickly lost bite. To make matters worse, senior player Sean Williams walked off the field late in the day with a fever and is a doubt for the remainder of the match.
Mulder’s 264 is now the seventh-highest score in South African Test history, and it may yet rise. Play resumes at 10am today.
derick.khumalo