The South Africa tour of Zimbabwe concluded with a resounding victory for the visitors in the second Test, which took place from July 6 to July 8, 2025. Hosted at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, the match saw South Africa defeat Zimbabwe by an innings and 236 runs, wrapping up the contest within three days to secure a 2-0 series sweep.
Match Summary
- Venue: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
- Toss: Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bowl first.
- Dates: July 6–8, 2025.
- Result: South Africa won by an innings and 236 runs.
Mulder's Record-Breaking Innings
The cornerstone of South Africa's dominant performance was a historic innings from stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder. After Zimbabwe put them in to bat, South Africa amassed a colossal total of 626 for 5 declared. Mulder was the star, scoring a remarkable, unbeaten 367*. This monumental knock not only marked his first triple century in Test cricket but also set a new record for the highest individual score by a South African in Tests, surpassing Hashim Amla's previous record of 311*.
Mulder found able support from his teammates. David Bedingham contributed a brisk 82, while Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored 78. Their partnerships helped lay the foundation for South Africa's massive total, putting immense pressure on the home side from the outset.
Zimbabwe's Response and Follow-On
Facing a mountain of runs, Zimbabwe's batting lineup struggled to cope with the South African bowling attack. In their first innings, they were bowled out for 170. Sean Williams was the lone fighter, scoring a valiant 83 not out. Spinner Prenelan Subrayen, on his Test debut, was the chief destroyer for South Africa, claiming 4 wickets for 42 runs.
Forced to follow on, Zimbabwe's second innings saw a little more resistance but ultimately ended with the same result. They were dismissed for 220. Nick Welch scored a half-century, making 55, and captain Craig Ervine contributed 49. However, the South African bowlers were relentless. Corbin Bosch led the attack with 4 wickets for 38 runs, while Senuran Muthusamy picked up 3 for 77, sealing the comprehensive victory for the Proteas.
Key Partnerships:
- A third-wicket stand of 184 runs between Wiaan Mulder and David Bedingham.
- A fourth-wicket partnership of 217 runs between Mulder and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
| Zimbabwe Bowling | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanaka Chivanga | 18 | 1 | 112 | 2 |
| Kundai Matigimu | 23 | 0 | 124 | 2 |
Wiaan Mulder's Historic Innings
Stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder's unbeaten 367* was the highlight of the match, setting multiple records:
- It is the highest individual Test score by a South African, surpassing Hashim Amla's 311*.
- It is the fifth-highest individual score in Test cricket history.
- His innings included 49 fours and four sixes from 334 balls.
- He reached his triple century from 297 deliveries, the second-fastest in Test history.
Mulder declared the innings at lunch on day two, just 33 runs shy of breaking Brian Lara's all-time record of 400*, a decision praised as selfless and sporting. Mulder himself stated, "Brian Lara is a legend... For someone of that stature to keep the record is pretty special".
A Dominant Series Win
South Africa's victory in the second Test cemented their dominance in the series, following their win by 328 runs in the first Test. The tour provided a platform for several players to shine, with Test debuts for South Africa's Lesego Senokwane and Prenelan Subrayen, and Zimbabwe's Kundai Matigimu. For Zimbabwe, it was a tough series against the reigning World Test champions.