Mulder makes merry and Bosch takes late wicket to keep Proteas on top
While Zimbabwe's attack is nowhere near the quality of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins, who Mulder played so effectively against in the second innings of the World Test Championship final, the early loss of an opener in each innings, meant Mulder was under pressure when he arrived at the crease.
Unfortunately for Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani, who Mulder acknowledged was difficult to handle in the first innings and then late on the second day, wasn't able to bowl on Monday morning because he was feeling unwell.
But there is a different kind of pressure for batters when conditions are in their favour, and Mulder showed the requisite responsibility to take advantage against an attack with just one front-line seam bowler. Again there was a lot of loose bowling from the home spinners, allowing Mulder to display his attacking repertoire.
At the other end, Tony de Zorzi (31) and David Bedingham (35) wasted their opportunities. De Zorzi, who missed out on the WTC final, again flashed at a delivery outside his off stump, with the edge easily taken by Sean Williams at second slip.
In the first innings, Williams dropped De Zorzi in the same spot, before the left-hander was dismissed, caught at third slip also off the bowling of Tanaka Chivanga. There is an issue for De Zorzi in that region that he needs to resolve if he wants to win back his spot when everyone is available.
Bedingham, who made a three-ball duck in the first innings, can be forgiven for his dismissal as he was trying to keep the scoring rate high and pulled a short ball from Wellington Masakadza straight to Williams at midwicket. That he missed out on a score of more substance may concern him, especially given the contributions of debutants Pretorius and Dewald Brevis on the first day.
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