Bedingham scored 82 before falling lbw to Chivanga late in the second session
AGENCY
NEW DELHI, july 6
Wiaan Mulder marked his promotion to No. 3 and captaincy – albeit in a stand-in capacity – with a second consecutive century to reinforce South Africa’s push for a commanding first-innings score in Bulawayo. Mulder went to tea unbeaten on 133, his third-wicket stand of 184 with David Bedingham driving South Africa to 243 for 3.
Bedingham’s wicket late in the session, lbw to a Chivanga nip-backer for 82, gave Zimbabwe a late lift as conditions got progressively better for the batters with the sun baking the Queens Sports Club pitch.
Teenager Lhuan-dre Pretorius, fresh off a barnstorming century on Test debut last week, then showed no fear in dancing down to hit left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza over cover for a four and then slog-sweeping him over deep midwicket for six. He was unbeaten on 13.
Mulder continued to buckle down and build on his third Test ton, inching towards a career-best 147 that he achieved in the previous Test. His knock was largely flawless, the only half-chance coming on 91 when he mistimed a pull that he appeared to bail out at the last moment off a Blessing Muzarabani. Fortunately for Mulder, the ball landed between deep square leg and long leg.
Zimbabwe’s struggles were further accentuated by a niggle to debutant Kundai Matigimu, who hobbled off three balls into his first over after lunch. While he did return a short while later, he only managed to bowl one more over in the session and looked low on pace.
That meant Zimbabwe were heavily reliant on Muzarabani to trouble the batters, with Masakadza playing a largely defensive role in the absence of much purchase off the surface. Mulder and Bedingham showed great control while negating the short balls in front of square, and were equally punishing against spin – cutting and pulling fearlessly.
Zimbabwe came out of lunch with some energy, Chivanga troubling Mulder, first with a short ball that was perilously close to the gloves and then with one that kept low to shave past the stumps as he attempted a short-arm jab. But moments like those were far and few, as the batters feasted on Zimbabwe’s inconsistent and inexperienced attack.
Things looked far different earlier in the day, when Zimbabwe had the visitors 24 for 2 after electing to bowl. Tony de Zorzi didn’t last long, flaying to gully where Nick Welch hung on to a superb catch. Then debutant Lesego Senokwane, who took 28 deliveries between his first Test run and his next, fell lbw when he attempted to release pressure by trying to paddle Masakadza.
Zimbabwe should have been on the charge. But they deviated from the mantra that brought them success. They went for the short-ball strategy and saw it spectacularly backfire as Mulder and Bedingham brought up their half-century stand off just 35 balls to set South Africa on the road to recovery.
