ZIM vs SA | Subrayen and Bosch take Proteas to huge win after Mulder’s marathon knock

‌South Africa thrashed Zimbabwe by an innings and 236 runs in the second Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Tuesday. Prenelan Subrayen and Corbin Bosch led a clinical bowling show for the Proteas to complete proceedings on the third day after Wiaan Mulders’ unbelievable knock had powered them to a mammoth first-innings total.

Starting day three at 51/1, and 405 runs in arrears, the home side started promisingly before losing their way in a middle-order collapse. They slipped from 153/3 to 184/9 in a gap of 19 overs before finally being bundled out for 220 in their second essay. Nick Welch top-scored for Zimbabwe with a patient 55, hitting three fours and two sixes, with his dismissal triggering a freefall. Skipper Craig Ervine also dug in with a gritty 49 but he could not garner support from the other end with opener Takudzwanashe Kaitano (40) being the only other player to go past the 25-run mark for the hosts. Though Wellington Masakadza and Tanaka Chivanga put on 36 for the final wicket to take Zimbabwe past 200, it only delayed the inevitable as the home side were bowled out in the second session. For the Proteas, pacer Corbin Bosch was the pick among the bowlers with figures of 4/38 while left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy finished with three wickets.

Zimbabwe could not put up any resistance in the first innings either, getting all out for just 170 with Sean Williams’ blistering 55-ball 83 being the only bright spot for them. Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen ended with 4/42 while stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder and pacer Codi Yusuf picked up two wickets each as South Africa, literally, sealed the game with a huge lead of 456.

Mulder was declared Player of the Match for his marathon unbeaten knock of 367, which came in just 334 balls and included 49 fours and four sixes. The all-rounder, who went on to register South Africa’s highest individual score in Tests, also picked up three wickets in the game.

With another big win, the Proteas completed a 2-0 whitewash over their neighbours as Mulder eventually won the Player of the Series award too, with a tally of 531 runs and seven wickets from two Test matches.