• Wiaan Mulder’s composed innings on a tricky pitch helped South Africa take full control against Zimbabwe.

  • South Africa held the upper hand on Day 3 with a big lead.

ZIM vs SA: Fans erupt as Wiaan Mulder’s sensational century puts South Africa in a strong position on Day 3 of first Test
Wiaan Mulder (Image Source: X)

On Day 3 of the first Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe, Wiaan Mulder scored a sensational century to put his team in a strong position. His innings came at an important time, with South Africa looking to build a big lead after losing both openers early. With the lead now close to 450, South Africa are clearly in control of the match.

Wiaan Mulder impresses with composed knock in first Test

Mulder started Day 2 with the responsibility of carrying the innings. After opener Matthew Breetzke got out cheaply, he formed key partnerships with the middle order to keep the runs coming. He stayed calm under pressure and played smart cricket, mixing solid defence with good attacking shots. What made his knock even more impressive was that it came on a surface starting to show significant turn and bounce — conditions that made scoring much more difficult.

Despite the challenge, Mulder rotated the strike well and punished loose balls, keeping the scoreboard moving. His impressive knock finally came to an end in the second session, as he was dismissed for 147 off 206 balls. By then, he had already done the job — giving South Africa a huge advantage and putting them firmly on top in the opening Test.

South Africa tightens the grip on Day 3 with a massive lead

Despite numerous fresh faces, South Africa have shown great performance in every department in the opening game. After winning the toss, the Proteas chose to bat first, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch scoring brilliant centuries in the first innings. With the ball, South Africa put in a solid effort, with Mulder shining with four wickets, alongside Codi Yusuf and skipper Keshav Maharaj.

Meanwhile, the hosts Zimbabwe have also shown great resilience against the World Test Champions. Veteran all-rounder Sean Williams scored a gritty century in their first innings. In the bowling department, Tanaka Chivanga was the bright spot, keeping the South African batting in check. Zimbabwe have shown promising signs of growth and competitiveness in challenging conditions.

Also WATCH: Vincent Masekesa bamboozles Lhuan-dre Pretorius with an absolute ripper

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also READ: Sean Williams wages lone battle as Proteas tighten grip on Day 2

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About the Author:
Varun Verma is a dedicated cricket enthusiast with a flair for storytelling and in-depth analysis. Combining a deep knowledge of the sport with a talent for engaging content creation, he brings the drama and thrill of the game to life for fans around the world. Drawing inspiration from the grit and passion of players like Ben Stokes, Varun aspires to one day experience the electrifying atmosphere of a Test match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. He can be reached at varun.verma@betvisa68.com and followed on and .