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In a sensational turn of events during the second Test between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Bulawayo, Wiaan Mulder etched his name into the history books by scoring a majestic double-century in his debut match as captain. With regular skipper Keshav Maharaj unavailable, Mulder not only shouldered the leadership duties but also led from the front with the bat, turning a shaky South African start into a commanding total.
Wiaan Mulder hits a tremendous double hundred
South Africa, having won the series opener, found themselves in early trouble after being put in to bat by Zimbabwe. The visitors were reeling at 24/2 when Mulder walked in at number three. Unfazed by the pressure, he stitched a vital partnership with David Bedingham to steady the innings and carry the Proteas past the 200-run mark.
Mulder’s brilliance didn’t stop there. He later built a fluent stand with young Lhuan-dre Pretorius, helping South Africa breach the 300-run barrier. The all-rounder brought up his hundred off just 116 deliveries before shifting gears with authority to bring up his maiden double ton in the post-tea session.
Mulder joins elite club with the double ton
With this incredible knock, Mulder became only the third South African to score a century on captaincy debut in Test cricket. He follows in the footsteps of Herbie Taylor (109 vs England, 1913) and Jackie McGlew (104* vs England, 1955). However, Mulder has gone one step further — becoming the first South African to notch a double-century in his first match as Test captain.
Globally, only two other players have managed this feat before him: New Zealand’s Graham Dowling (239 vs India in 1968) and West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul (203* vs South Africa in 2005).
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Here’s how fans reacted:
Wiaan Mulder brings up a sensational double century! 💪🔥
An absolutely phenomenal innings, showcasing pure class and composure on Day 1 of this second Test. 🇿🇦
Take a bow, skipper! 👏🏏
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA)
DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR WIAAN MULDER ON HIS TEST CAPTAINCY DEBUT 💪
– A Dream start, What a knock, Coming in 10th over & he smashed a remarkable Double Hundred against Zimbabwe.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Led by example. Dominated with the bat. 🔥
Wiaan Mulder brings up 200+ runs on captaincy debut! 🫡💯 |
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
Double century for Wiaan Mulder on his Test captaincy debut 💪
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
It took Jacques Kallis 242 innings to score his first Test double century
Wiaan Mulder has done it in his 34th
— Werner (@Werries_)
Wiaan Mulder is the best no.3 in the world.
— Dale (@ncakos316)
Wiaan Mulder's maiden double hundred is the second fastest by a South African.
— SA Cricket magazine (@SACricketmag)
A beautiful Double Ton for the Proteas Skipper 🙌👏
— Lawrence Bailey 🇿🇦 (@LawrenceBailey0)
What a knock by Mulder. Second fastest double ton by a SA player. Take a bow captain! 👏
— Eems (@NaeemahBenjamin)
Maiden DOUBLE TON for Wiaan Mulder!!! 🎉🎉🎉
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA)
DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR WIAAN MULDER ON HIS TEST CAPTAINCY DEBUT 💪
– A Dream start, What a knock, Coming in 10th over & he smashed a remarkable Double Hundred against Zimbabwe.
— 𝑨𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏 🚩 (@AnuranDey_96)
DOUBLE CENTURY on Test captaincy debut! 💪🔥
Wiaan Mulder walks in early, leads from the front, and smashes a statement double hundred vs Zimbabwe.
Dream start. Captain’s knock.— Nivas Manepalli (@SrinivasManep10)
Double delight for Wiaan Mulder! 💯💯
A double ton on Test captaincy debut — only the third ever to do it:
239 – Graham Dowling (NZ) vs IND 1968
203* – Chanderpaul (WI) vs SA 2005
That's some elite company! 👑🔥
— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk)
Double century for Wiaan Mulder , Lets go for triple booi 🎊 👏 💐
— CHAMPIONS OF NEDBANK 🏆 (@mbayibongani)
A maiden Test double hundred for South Africa captain, Wiaan Mulder!🔥
In his first innings as captain, he smashed a brilliant double ton 🙇♂️🙌
— Cric Updates (@CricUpdate58494)
wow 200 runs in a single inning for Wiaan Mulder 🤯
— ale (@alexarcello)
Only 3 players achieve to Score double century on his captaincy debut in test cricket
Graham Dowling (239)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (203*)
Wiaan Mulder *— Aromal G (@AromalG9)
Wiaan Mulder becomes the 4th South African test captain after Nourse, Smith and Amla to score a double century and the ONLY to do so in their first game as captain.
What a player he's turning into.
— Dale (@ncakos316)
Wiaan Mulder! Just exceptional!
Wow 👌 👏
Double Century as a captain 🇿🇦👏👏👏👏👏👏
200 runs are not a child s play
— CEDLUV💓💓 (@Cedluv)
Decent Sunday in Bulawayo for Wiaan Mulder. 214 balls for a double hundred. Second double by a Proteas batter this year. Looks like he'll be staying in the no.3 spot.
— stuart hess (@shockerhess)
Maiden double century for Wiaan Mulder.First ever Proteas batter to achieve this as a captain.Played 👏
— Dinesh here 🙋♂️🇿🇦 (@dinesh_offl_06)
South African captains to score double centuries in Test cricket :-
Graeme Smith (4 times)
Hashim Amla (2 times)
Dudley Nourse
Wiaan Mulder – vs ZIM today— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@_rhitankar_)
*DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR WIAAN MULDER ON HIS TEST CAPTAINCY DEBUT 💪*
– _A Dream start, What a knock, Coming in 10th over & he smashed a remarkable Double Hundred against Zimbabwe.
— Crickupdate (@maulikchauhan13)
Wiaan Mulder is the third batter in history to score a double-century on captaincy debut!
— Rahul Warrier (@rahulw_)
Shubman Gill at Birmingham & Wiaan Mulder at Bulawayo – this is only the second time two captains scored Test double centuries within a week's time.
Only previous instance was by Mahela Jayawardene & Younis Khan in the same match at Karachi in Feb 2009.
— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@_rhitankar_)
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