South Africa complete easy victory over Zimbabwe to win test series

Straits Times

08-07-2025

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe - South Africa completed an innings and 236-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on the third day of the second test on Tuesday to convincingly sweep the two-match series at Queens Sports Club.
South Africa, who were put into bat and declared their first innings on 626-5, bowled Zimbabwe out for 220, having enforced the follow-on after skittling out the home side for 170 in their first innings.
Zimbabwe were 51-1 in their second innings overnight and, although they added 92 runs in the morning session, they regularly lost wickets and were all out before tea.
Seamer Corbin Bosch took 4-38 to clean up the tail, with three wickets for spinner Senuran Muthusamy.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano (40), Nick Welch (55) and skipper Craig Ervine (49) offered resistance in a clash best remembered for the decision by South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder not to chase down the highest score in a test innings.
Mulder was 367 not out, 34 runs away from breaking Brian Lara's 21-year-old landmark of 400 for West Indies against England, when he decided to declare the innings at lunch on the second day.
With one of cricket's significant milestones in his sights, and plenty of time left in the five-day contest, Mulder's decision not to attempt to break the record was met with astonishment.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10
Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants
Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue
Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, vexed Asean countries have little choice but to play on
Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land
Asia Seoul scorches at 37.8 deg C, highest early-July temperature ever recorded
Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses
Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray
But the 27-year-old all-rounder, whose test batting average before the match was 26.2, felt it would be inappropriate to dislodge one of the game's greats from the record books.
'Respecting the game is really important and Lara is one of the greatest ever to play the game and deserves to keep that record,' Mulder said at a press conference after play on Monday.
His knock, however, was the fifth-highest score in a test and a South Africa record. He also took three wickets and snagged three catches in the match.
South Africa rested most of the team that won the World Test Championship against Australia at Lord's last month but still proved far too strong for their neighbours as they also won last week's first test by 328 runs.
They have now won 10 successive test matches and next take on Pakistan away in October. Zimbabwe's next test outing is a two-match series against New Zealand in Bulawayo that starts at the end of the month. REUTERS