The Proteas pressed home their advantage on the third day of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, with a magnificent, controlled knock of 147 by Wiaan Mulder guiding to them to 369 in their second innings at the Queens Sports Club, and a commanding lead of 536 runs.
The world champions started the day on 49/1 with Tony de Zorzi on 22 and Mulder on 25.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers toiled in the Illness-enforced absence of star bowler Blessing Muzarabani for most of the day’s play.
Tanaka Chivanga was left to shoulder much of the seam-bowling load. He proved a handful for the SA batters early on, accounting for the wicket of Tony de Zorzi for 31.
All-rounder Mulder and middle-order batter David Bedingham were particularly harsh on spinner Vincent Masekesa, depositing him over the ropes in quick succession, on their way to a 50-run partnership.
Fellow spinner Wellington Masakadza broke the partnership when he had Bedingham caught for 35. First-innings centurion Lhuan-dre Pretorius was then bowled by a wicked turning delivery from Masekesa, who also snagged the wicket of Dewald Brevis soon thereafter.
But the Zimbabwe bowling attack was struggling to keep the run rate in check, which hovered close to five runs an over throughout the Proteas’ innings.
Mulder raced to 99 in the over before lunch. A punch through the covers off Chivange’s bowling took him to triple figures. The score was 198/5 at the interval. A solid partnership with Kyle Verrynne after the break took the Proteas to 223/5 after 50 overs.
Mulder remained untroubled as he approached 150. But an attempted hoik just three runs short of the milestone was caught on the boundary.
The departure of the mainstay of the SA innings, for his highest Test score of 147 off 205 balls, was followed soon afterwards by that of wicketkeeper Verreynne.
Skipper Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch kept the run rate ticking over at 4.8, both racing past 30 with a flurry of boundaries. The lead ballooned to more than 500 runs at tea, yet there was no sign of the declaration.
Muzarabani made a late appearance in the Zimbabwe attack just before tea. He thought he had Bosch out caught behind for 32, but he had overstepped.
Maharaj reached his 50 (64), while speedster Kwena Maphaka was the last man out, bowled by Muzarabani, as SA reached 369. The second-inning lead was 536.
Zimbabwe’s batters made it to the close on 32/1 in their second innings. Takudzwanashe Kaitano was caught for 12 off the bowling of Bosch in the final over the day. They will face a tough ask trying to save the Test on the final day.
Zimbabwe v South Africa
First Test, Day 3, Stumps
South Africa: 418/9 & 369 (Mulder 147, Maharaj 51, Masakadza 4/98, Chivanga 2/76)
Zimbabwe: 251 & 32* (Masvaure 5*, Kaitano 12*, Yusuf 0/5, Mulder, Maphaka, Maharaj 0/6)
Zimbabwe need 505 runs to win the match with nine wickets remaining
