ZIM vs SA 2025 1st Test, Day 3: Wiaan Mulder 147 puts South Africa in driver’s seat | CricTracker

Zimbabwe ended Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa on 32/1 in 18 overs. The hosts require 505 more runs to track down a massively unrealistic target of 537 in the two days which remain to pull off a landmark win.

The morning session started with Tony de Zorzi and Wiaan Mulder batting in their 20s. The first couple of overs yielded only one run each. The first two boundaries were scored in the third over; one each by de Zorzi and Mulder on the first and sixth delivery, respectively. Just as it seemed as if de Zorzi was in for the long run, he was dismissed for 31 off 35.

It was Tanaka Chivanga who had struck yet again. The delivery which got rid of de Zorzi was bang on a good length in a channel which enticed the southpaw to poke at it. The rest was done by the fielder at second slip, who took a low diving catch in front. The first maximum of the third day came early on off the bat of David Bedingham on the final ball of the ninth over of the day.

Nine balls later, Mulder joined the party by pulling a half-tracker by Wellington Masakadza for a maximum to bring up his fifty in style. Vincent Masekesa was introduced in the 26th over of the innings. Masakadza being brought back into the attack proved massive for Zimbabwe. Despite the delivery in itself not being a wicket-taking ball, Bedingham (35 off 39) had somehow been dismissed.

Masekesa’s double strikes in his fifth and seventh overs brought the hosts right back into the contest. Both Test debutants, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (four off six) and Dewald Brevis (three off nine), had their furniture disturbed, as South Africa found themselves five down all of a sudden. Two consecutive boundaries off the leg-spinner meant Mulder was into the nineties.

Mulder brought up a well-deserved ton, his second Test ton, on the third ball of the final over before Lunch with an exquisite backfoot punch to the fence. Blessing Muzarabani, who had bowled seven of the 13 overs before the end of day’s play a day prior, had still not stepped foot on the ground due to being unwell. The very first ball of the post-Lunch session was slashed away for a four.

Mulder’s second six of the day meant that the fourth umpire had to come out with a fresh set of balls to choose from. South Africa had soon got to 223/5 at the end of 50 overs, and shortly after, the lead had made its way past 400. The two were going along well, with boundaries coming at regular intervals. The off-spin of Wessly Madhevere was what got rid of Mulder (147 off 206) three short of his 150.

A delivery which gripped at pace was the reason Kyle Verreynne (36 off 56) was back into the shed in the very next over. Zimbabwe still had to deal with the duo of Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj. Instead of taking their time and easing through to Tea, the two were quite proactive with the bat. They ensured that there was no slip in the rate at which runs were being scored.

Barring the couple of wickets which fell in the second session, that particular phase of play completely belonged to South Africa. After all, they had scored 151 runs in 31 overs with the lead having slid past 500 too. It remained to be seen when the Proteas would declare and have a crack at the Zimbabwean batting department. Maharaj brought up his sixth fifty shortly after play resumed after the Tea interval.

Masakadza struck twice in back-to-back overs to dismiss Bosch (36 off 41) and Maharaj (51 off 70), leaving the opposition nine down. It was to be seen whether the left-arm orthodox would claim his maiden five-wicket haul or not. Muzarabani was handed the second new ball to wrap up proceedings. He did so eventually, but not before the No. 10 and No. 11 forged together a frustrating 17-run stand together.

The new-ball pair of debutant, Codi Yusuf, and Mulder were right on the money first up. The first couple of overs were maidens. They crawled to 5/0 at the end of the first five overs. It seemed as if their main intention was to survive the day without the fall of any wickets. Codi and Mulder were replaced by Kwena Maphaka and Maharaj, respectively.

Maphaka’s first three overs comprised of two instances where he had completely lost his radar, resulting in five wides and five byes (which included a no-ball).Takudzwanashe Kaitano finally got into double digits with a double on his 49th delivery of the innings. Maharaj’s promptness in getting his over out quickly ensured there would be one final crack at the batters before play ended.

It was the perfect ending for Bosch and the rest of his teammates after Kaitano prodded forward to offer an outside edge to second slip to end his dogged 62-ball stay at the crease. This was Bosch’s first wicket of the Test after going wicketless in Zimbabwe’s first innings in which the 30-year-old all-rounder bowled nine overs for 31 runs.

Get every cricket updates! Follow Us: