When Shukri Conrad spoke about Wiaan Mulder’s appointment as captain following Keshav Maharaj’s injury last week, he highlighted how he believed the 27-year old responded well to added responsibility, and that the appointment was partly another way of showing that they back him.
The coach was right.
Mulder scored an unbeaten 264 off 259 balls on the opening day of the second Test match against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The right-handed batter struck 34 fours and three sixes during his knock on Sunday, registering the highest individual score by a South African in his first innings as captain.
Moreover, Mulder’s double century puts him within reach of surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311 — the highest individual score by a South African in Test cricket.
While debutant Lesego Senokwane (three) and Tony de Zorzi (10) made little impact on the team’s total of 465/4 at stumps, David Bedingham (82) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (78) contributed half-centuries. Mulder and Bedingham shared a 184-run stand, while Mulder and Pretorius added 217 runs, with the Proteas scoring at more than five runs per over.
Bedingham spoke highly of Mulder’s dedication behind the scenes and attributed his success to years of hard work.
“For Wiaan to bat the whole day — what did he score, 260-odd? I know how hard he’s worked for five years, and it’s not just, let’s say, the last three months. I think he’s wanted it for so long,” Bedingham said.
“He’s worked his arse off for five years, so I’m really happy and chuffed for Wiaan. I think as a team we all really enjoy each other’s success, but especially seeing Wiaan do well — the team really likes it and appreciates it.”
Heading into the second Test, Bedingham would have been under pressure to perform, having endured a lean patch in red-ball cricket. But the 31-year-old delivered with a fluent 82 off 101 balls — a reminder of his class as he and Mulder kept the scoring rate high.
“I feel it’s always nice scoring runs. Obviously, I’d like to score hundreds, but I would have taken 81. I think for the last six months I haven’t felt myself, so it was quite nice to get some runs and bat the way I know I can,” he added.
“I feel we both play that way (attacking style) naturally. I do feel the pitch had less bounce in this Test than the last one, but I think it was just about getting together, facing a certain number of balls and then trusting the surface. The way Wiaan played especially made me feel a lot more at ease.”
With Mulder and Dewald Brevis (15 not out) set to resume on day two, Bedingham said that the plan is to continue batting aggressively.
“I feel that we scored quickly the whole day, so that allows us to bat even longer,” he said.
“I’m not sure about the target, but I know we’ll come out in the morning, bat aggressively, and try to get a certain score.”
Day two is set to get underway on Monday at 10am.
