1st Test: South Africa set Zimbabwe 537 to win after Wian Mulder's career-best 100
South Africa took firm control of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, setting the hosts a towering target of 537 runs after Wiaan Mulder's career-best 147 on day three at Queens Sports Club. By stumps on Monday, Zimbabwe were 32 for 1 in 18.2 overs, still 505 runs adrift and without concussed opener Brian Bennett for the remainder of the match.advertisementThe final blow of the day came off the last ball, when Corbin Bosch found the outside edge of Takudzwanashe Kaitano's defensive push. Lhuan-dre Pretorius made no mistake with a sharp low catch at third slip, breaking a dogged opening stand and handing South Africa a crucial breakthrough.Prince Masvaure, Bennett's concussion substitute, was unbeaten on 5 at the close. He had a nervy moment six overs before stumps, when a tough chance off Keshav Maharaj's bowling went down at short leg. Maharaj, who extracted turn and bounce in his brief spell, looms as a major threat heading into the fourth day on a surface beginning to dry and deteriorate.
Earlier, South Africa resumed on 49 for 1 with a lead of 216 and quickly found themselves under pressure at 155 for 5. But Mulder, unbeaten on 25 overnight, stood tall. The 26-year-old all-rounder weathered the storm and gradually turned the tide with a composed, fluent innings.advertisementHe brought up his second Test century - and his first outside South Africa - in the final over before lunch, reaching three figures off 149 balls. It was a knock marked by patience, authority, and shot selection. Mulder's 147, which included 17 boundaries and two sixes, anchored South Africa's innings and drained Zimbabwe's energy.A 104-run partnership with Kyle Verreynne through the afternoon consolidated South Africa's dominance. Mulder eventually fell attempting to clear the rope, caught on the boundary by Kaitano off Wessly Madhevere.Stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj then played a useful hand down the order, scoring a brisk 51 from 70 balls to push the total to 369 before being bowled by Wellington Masakadza. Masakadza finished with figures of 4 for 98, while Tanaka Chivanga and Vincent Masekesa picked up two wickets apiece.That total left Zimbabwe needing a world-record fourth-innings chase of 537 for victory. Their highest-ever successful fourth-innings score remains 331, set against New Zealand in Bulawayo back in 2001. Given they managed just 251 in their first innings - with Mulder taking four wickets - their task borders on the impossible.Still, Kaitano and Masvaure showed grit during a tense final session, holding off the South African seamers and spinners for nearly 18 overs. But just as Zimbabwe looked set to close the day unscathed, Bosch struck.With two days left and the pitch beginning to offer more to the bowlers, South Africa's attack will fancy wrapping up the win well before the fifth morning. But regardless of what lies ahead, Monday belonged to Wiaan Mulder - with the ball and, emphatically, with the bat.- Ends
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