South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder felt he had no right to dislodge West Indies great Brian Lara from the summit of highest test innings scores and decided to declare his team’s innings against Zimbabwe when he was 34 runs short of breaking the record.

Mulder was 367 not out at lunch on the second day of the second test at the Queens Sports Club on Monday when he made the surprise call not to continue batting, passing up the opportunity to set a unique cricketing milestone.

“First things first. I thought we’d got enough and needed a bowl. And, secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real,” Mulder said at the close of play on Monday.

“He got 400 against England (in Antigua in 2004) and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I’d probably do the same thing.”

The 27-year-old all-rounder, in his first stint as captain, said he also got support for his decision from coach Shukri Conrad.

“He said to me, ‘Let the legends keep the really big scores’. And you know, you never know what’s my fate or what’s destined for me, but I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.”

Mulder did notch up the fifth highest test score and, on the list of triple centurions, now sits above the likes of Don Bradman and Gary Sobers.

He was only recently promoted up the South Africa order to fill the troublesome No. 3 position and before his triple hundred averaged only 26.20 in 33 test innings, with two previous tons.

“To be honest with you, I’ve never even dreamed of getting a double hundred, never mind a triple hundred,” he said on Monday after lashing a mediocre home attack to all corners in an impressive knock made up of 53 boundaries.

“But it’s super special and the most important thing is putting the team in a good position to hopefully win this test,” Mulder added.

South Africa, who declared on 626-5, are in a commanding position with Zimbabwe trailing by 405 runs, having been forced to follow on after being dismissed for 170 in their reply, with Mulder taking two wickets to top off a day he will never forget.

Reuters

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South Africa will be further depleted for the second test against Zimbabwe starting in Bulawayo on Sunday after stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj was ruled out with a left groin strain.

South Africa won the first test at the same venue by 328 runs on Tuesday, fielding only four of the players who helped them to victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s last month.

That will be down to three with Senuran Muthusamy to replace Maharaj. All-rounder Wiaan Mulder will skipper the side as they search for a 2-0 series win.

Seamer Lungi Ngidi, who played in the WTC final, missed the first test and was expected to join the team in Zimbabwe ahead of the second match but Cricket South Africa has cancelled that plan.

Reuters

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Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams struck a fluent 137 from 164 balls on day two of the first test against South Africa in Bulawayo on Sunday, but the visitors were in command with a 216-run lead and nine second-innings wickets remaining.

A South African side missing several regulars will resume on 49 for one on the third morning after Zimbabwe made 251 in reply to the tourists’ first-innings score of 418 for nine declared.

Opener Tony de Zorzi is 22 not out and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has 25 as South Africa look to build a formidable total for their hosts to chase.

Matthew Breetzke was the only wicket to fall in their second innings after he was caught by Wessly Madhevere in the gully off the bowling of Tanaka Chivanga for one.

The 38-year-old Williams held his side’s first innings together with a sixth century in 21 tests, despite taking a nasty blow to the helmet from teenage South African speedster Kwena Maphaka.

Maphaka had earlier ended opener Brian Bennett’s game when he too was struck on the helmet and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the fixture with concussion.

Bennett’s place was taken by concussion replacement Prince Masvaure, who managed only seven before he became one of four wickets for Mulder (4-50).

Debutant seamer Codi Yusuf finished with figures of 3-42 and stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj took 3-70, including the wicket of Williams, who was stumped by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne.

South Africa are fielding only four of the players who did duty in the World Test Championship victory over Australia at Lord’s earlier this month.

One of their three debutants is Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who at 19 years and 93 days on Saturday became the youngest player to score 150 in men’s test cricket when the left-hander struck 153 in 160 balls in South Africa’s first innings.

It was also the second fastest score of 150 by a debutant in tests, taking 157 deliveries, behind India’s Shikhar Dhawan, who managed 150 in 131 balls against Australia in 2013.

Reuters

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South Africa will give a debut to firebrand 18-year-old fast bowler Kwena Maphaka as one of three changes to their side for the second and final test against Pakistan starting at Newlands on Friday.

Opening batter Tony de Zorzi has been ruled out with a left thigh strain and will be replaced by all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who will bat at number three with Ryan Rickelton moving to the opener position.

Spinner Keshav Maharaj has recovered from injury and replaces seamer Corbin Bosch after the latter starred on debut in the tense two-wicket win during last week’s first test in Pretoria.

Maphaka has only bowled 60.5 overs in first class cricket and was writing his school exams a few months ago. He takes the place of Dane Paterson, who took 5-61 in the first innings at Centurion Park.

“We want to go with an extra bit of pace, even though Paterson has been superb for us,” South Africa captain Temba Bavuma told reporters on Thursday.

“Whatever happens from a performance point of view, it will put him (Maphaka) in good stead. He will be looking forward to running in with Kagiso Rabada over the next few days.

“You want to allow him to be as free as you can… and allow the exuberance of youth to come out. It is a case of bowl as quick as you can.

“He does not have a foundation (of playing) first class cricket, and this is certainly not a trial for him, we know what his talent is all about.”

The previous test at Newlands against India 12 months ago was completed in 107 overs as the visitors won by seven wickets, the shortest game to have a winner in test history.

The pitch then drew heavy criticism and Bavuma seemed reluctant to discuss it on the eve of the fixture with Pakistan.

“The wicket looks quite interesting. Hopefully it does go the full five days, or at least offers the opportunity to,” was all he said.

South Africa have already claimed their place in June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s against as yet unconfirmed opponents, but Bavuma said they are fired up to close out the series against Pakistan and are not treating this as a dead rubber.

“The series is still on the line, it is not just a case of we ticked the box of being in the final,” Bavuma said. “We still want to be clinical, we are eying 2-0. The focus is still there.

“As much as we won last week, we were not at our best with bat and ball and that is something to work on.”

South Africa XI to play Pakistan at Newlands: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.

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South Africa tailenders Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen hung in against relentless fast bowler Mohammad Abbas for a tense two-wicket win in the first test on Sunday to seal the Proteas’ place in next year’s World Test Championship final.

Jansen (16 not out) overshadowed Abbas’ brilliant figures of 6-54 with a square driven boundary against the fast bowler as South Africa reached 150-8 just after lunch on Day 4 and escaped with a close win in the opener of the two-match series.

“Quite an emotional moment for me, good advert for test cricket,” said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, who made 40. “We haven’t been ruthless but have found a way to ensure the result was on our side. Lot of joy and happiness on our side, a bit of a rollercoaster, glad that we were able to get the result.”

Abbas, making a comeback after more than three years in the test wilderness, had knocked back South Africa’s tricky chase of 148 runs in a marathon 13-over spell before lunch on Day 4 as the home team limped to 99-8, losing four wickets for three runs.

However, Rabada changed gears in an unbroken 51-run stand with Jansen and made an unbeaten 31 off 26 balls with five fours to seal a memorable victory and denied Pakistan its first test win in South Africa in almost 18 years.

South Africa had started this WTC cycle with a 1-1 drawn series against India before getting swept 2-0 in New Zealand. But since then the Proteas have beaten West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to stay on top of the table.

“It (WTC final) is a big one, not just for myself but also the team and the coach,” Bavuma said. “The way we started our campaign, against India and then New Zealand with a not-so-strong team, and the way we have gone through with our performances, not many gave us a chance.”

India, Australia and Sri Lanka are the other teams still in contention for next June’s WTC final against South Africa at Lord’s.

Captain Temba Bavuma (40) and Aiden Markram (37) had thwarted Abbas for an hour after South Africa resumed at a wobbly 27-3, still needing 121 for victory.

Bavuma’s controversial dismissal punctuated a South Africa collapse in the latter half of first session with Abbas grabbing three off his six balls in a sensational home team collapse.

Bavuma, who made 40, surprisingly didn’t request a television review when replays suggested that Abbas’ ball had brushed the batter’s pocket and didn’t make contact with the inside edge of the bat but the South African skipper walked back to the dressing room.

Abbas bowled an unchanged marathon spell of 13 overs, but had to wait as Markram and Bavuma saw off eight overs from the fast bowlers.

Resuming at 27-3, Bavuma and Markram showed plenty of patience against Abbas’ probing line and length before the fast bowler finally got the breakthrough after the first drinks break.

Abbas was rewarded for his brilliant seam bowling when he beat the outside edge of Markram’s bat and knocked back the off stump.

Bavuma survived a couple of close chances when he successfully overturned an on-field lbw decision against him early in the day and Naseem Shah couldn’t hold onto a sharp catch at fine leg as he overstepped the boundary cushion while grabbing the ball over his head.

South Africa had controlled the game at 96-4 before Bavuma’s dismissal saw Abbas finding the outside edges of David Bedingham (14) and Corbin Bosch’s (0) bat off successive deliveries and in between Kyle Verreynne dragged Naseem Shah’s delivery back onto his stumps.

Abbas found the outside edge of Rabada’s bat in his first over after lunch that fell just short of wicketkeeper Rizwan before both tailenders took the team home.

“Extremely proud of the efforts, but going forward we need to be ruthless,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said. “We keep making the same mistakes but we have to get over the line, seize moments.”

The second test begins at Cape Town on Friday.

AP

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South Africa had Sri Lanka on the rack at 205-5 in a chase of 348 on the fourth day of the second test at St George’s Park on Sunday.

Medium-pacer Dane Paterson and spinner Keshav Maharaj took two wickets each after fast bowler Kagiso Rabada started prising out Sri Lankans by pinning opener Dimuth Karunaratne while he was playing defense in the third over.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis took up Sri Lanka’s counterattack from 122-5 in an unbeaten partnership of 83 runs.

De Silva and Kusal Mendis, both 39 not out, ensured a fifth day of play but the odds remained in favor of South Africa winning the series 2-0.

They are the last recognized batsmen, and the highest successful run chase at the ground was 271 by Australia 27 years ago.

Karunaratne’s innings came to a familiar end. He’s scored 2, 4, 20 and 1 in the series and been dismissed by Rabada all four times.

Rabada and Paterson were coming around the wicket and causing doubt. The batters saw enough bad balls to relieve pressure but they had to be gritty.

The other opener Pathum Nissanka was also removed before tea, poking at Paterson and edging behind on 18.

Straight after tea, Paterson also trapped Dinesh Chandimal while defending.

From 64-3, Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis began a recovery. But just when they were set, they were both out to Maharaj.

Mathews was bowled going for a swipe on 32, and Kamindu Mendis edged behind and was caught one-handed by Kyle Verreynne on 35.

De Silva and Kusal Mendis came together, hung tough and opened up as the ball got older and the bowlers got tired.

The Proteas had set an imposing target even after their second bat finished just after lunch on 317 when 400 looked on.

Captain Temba Bavuma, 48 overnight, reached his fourth consecutive fifty in the first over of the morning.

He and Tristan Stubbs soon after brought up their no-fuss 100-run partnership and were cruising — until Bavuma ran out Stubbs when he attempted an unnecessary second run.

Stubbs left for 47.

Bavuma and David Bedingham endured a barrage of bouncers only for both to fall to spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.

Bavuma was bowled for a team-high 66 off 116 balls. Following scores of 70, 113 and 78 in the series, Bavuma was comfortably the highest run-getter in the series, with nearly 130 more than the next best, Stubbs.

Two more wickets fell before the new ball was available, and Jayasuriya earned his 10th career five-wicket haul but first outside Sri Lanka. He finished with 5-129.

From 191-3 overnight with a lead of 211, the Proteas were reduced to 282-8 and a lead of 312 by lunch.

In a dramatic four overs after lunch, bowlers Rabada, Paterson and Maharaj plundered an extra 35 runs before the innings was all over on 317.

AP

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South Africa tightened its grip on the second and final cricket test against Bangladesh on Wednesday thanks to three batters hitting maiden centuries.

Tony de Zorzi struck 177 and Wiaan Mulder made 105 not out as South Africa declared its first innings at 575-6 on Day 2. That came after Tristan Stubbs made 106 on the opening day.

The visitors then took absolute command of the game by reducing Bangladesh to 38-4 at stumps, leaving the hosts in danger of following on.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam claimed 5-198, his second straight five-wicket haul in the series, but that mattered little as De Zorzi and David Bedingham continued their good work after resuming at 307-2.

They kept the Bangladesh bowlers at bay by playing a variety of shots, especially sweep and reverse sweep against the spinners.

Taijul, who took eight wickets in the first test that Bangladesh lost by seven wickets, then triggered a mini collapse as South Africa lost three wickets for just five runs to be reduced to 391-5 from 386-2.

De Zorzi reached 150 from 235 balls, smashing a tossed-up delivery of Tajiul through mid-wicket for a four but the bowler rattled Bedingham’s stump with a quicker delivery to end a 116-run partnership.Bedingham, who raised his third fifty off 70 balls, was dismissed on 59.

An over later, de Zorzi missed the line to be trapped leg-before. That ended his marathon 269-ball stand, which included 12 fours and four sixes.

Kyle Verreynne, the centurion of the first test, also missed a sweep shot to be trapped leg-before for a duck, handing Taijul his 14th five-for.

Pacer Nahid Rana (1-83) further troubled South Africa, dismissing Ryan Rickelton for 12 after he nicked a delivery to wicket-keeper Mahidul Islam.

After taking four wickets for 37 runs, Bangladesh sensed a chance to expose the South African tail but Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy came up with steely resolve to further frustrate the hosts.

The declaration came after Mulder, who struck fifty in the side’s seven-wicket victory in the first test, completed his century from 150 balls by hitting Taijul Islam for a six over the top.

Mulder and Muthusamy shared 152 runs for the unbeaten seventh-wicket stand.

Muthusamy also hit his maiden half-century and remained not out on 68 off 75 with the help of five fours and two sixes.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada who is back at No. 1 in the ICC test rankings, then struck twice to reduce Bangladesh to 21-2 in the fifth over, dismissing Shadman Islam for a duck and Zakir Hasan for 2.

His new ball partner Dane Paterson had Mahmudul Hasan (10) caught by Aiden Markram before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj removed nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud.

Mominul Haque was batting on 6 with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto on 4.

AP

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