SA complete easy victory over ZIM
South Africa completed an innings and 236-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on the third day of the second Test on Tuesday to convincingly sweep the two-match series at Queens Sports Club.
South Africa, who were put into bat and declared their first innings on 626-5, bowled Zimbabwe out for 220, having enforced the follow-on after skittling out the home side for 170 in their first innings.
Zimbabwe were 51-1 in their second innings overnight and, although they added 92 runs in the morning session, they regularly lost wickets and were all out before tea.
Seamer Corbin Bosch took 4-38 to clean up the tail, with three wickets for spinner Senuran Muthusamy.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano (40), Nick Welch (55) and skipper Craig Ervine (49) offered resistance in a clash best remembered for the decision by South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder not to chase down the highest score in a Test innings.
Mulder was 367 not out, 34 runs away from breaking Brian Lara's 21-year-old landmark of 400 for West Indies against England, when he decided to declare the innings at lunch on the second day.
With one of cricket's significant milestones in his sights, and plenty of time left in the five-day contest, Mulder's decision not to attempt to break the record was met with astonishment.
But the 27-year-old all-rounder, whose Test batting average before the match was 26.2, felt it would be inappropriate to dislodge one of the game's greats from the record books.
"Respecting the game is really important and Lara is one of the greatest ever to play the game and deserves to keep that record," Mulder said at a press conference after play on Monday.
His knock, however, was the fifth-highest score in a Test and a South Africa record. He also took three wickets and snagged three catches in the match.
South Africa rested most of the team that won the World Test Championship against Australia at Lord's last month but still proved far too strong for their neighbours as they also won last week's first Test by 328 runs.
They have now won 10 successive Test matches and next take on Pakistan away in October. Zimbabwe's next Test outing is a two-match series against New Zealand in Bulawayo that starts at the end of the month.
Lara's respect
South African captain Wiaan Mulder said respect for Brian Lara convinced him to declare 33 runs short of the former West Indies star's world Test record.
Mulder hammered an unbeaten 367 — a South African record and the fifth highest score in Test cricket — before declaring at lunch on the second day of the second Test.
"Brian Lara is a legend. He got 401 or whatever it was (it was 400) against England. For someone of that stature to keep the record is pretty special," Mulder said at the close.
"I think if I get the chance again I would do the same again."
Mulder spoke to South African coach Shukri Conrad who agreed with his decision.
"He said to me as well, let the legend keep the record. I never know what my fate will be but letting Brian Lara keep the record is the way it should be."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Wasim Akram hails Mitchell Starc as ‘modern-day great' ahead of 100th Test
Mitchell Starc will play his 100th Test when he takes the field against the West Indies on Saturday Photo: AFP Listen to article Pakistan fast bowling legend Wasim Akram on Saturday hailed Australia's Mitchell Starc as a "modern-day great" for reaching 100 Test appearances. Starc, who draws comparisons with fellow left-arm quick Akram, will reach the milestone later Saturday when the third Test against the West Indies begins in Jamaica. "It is a big deal in this day and age to reach 100 Tests, congratulations to Starc," Akram told AFP. "That shows the quality and resolve of the man." Congratulations Starcy on the 100-Test milestone! In this era, reaching such a landmark shows your commitment, consistency, and love for red-ball cricket — the purest form of the game. A modern-day great. Enjoy every bit of this achievement! I always enjoy watching you bowl. — Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) July 12, 2025 The 35-year-old becomes the 83rd player and 16th Australian to play 100 Tests, and only the second Australian fast bowler after Glenn McGrath. "To play 100 Tests shows how consistent Starc has been and also shows where his priorities lie -- that is to play red-ball cricket," said Akram. "He has also played Twenty20 and league cricket but his career in Test cricket is way ahead and to me he is a modern-day great." Starc stands on 395 Test wickets, so has the tantalising prospect of taking his landmark 400th wicket during his 100th Test. His strike rate is remarkably similar to Akram, who retired in 2002 after taking 414 wickets in 104 Tests. Both players, said Akram, had suffered injuries to "every joint, every part of the body" during their careers. "People often compare us but we have played in different eras," said Akram. "He's got the pace, he's got the swing and he's bowling very intelligently to the new batsman, especially with the new ball."
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan won't send hockey teams to India: govt sources
KARACHI: Pakistan will not travel to India for upcoming hockey tournaments over 'security' concerns, government sources told AFP on Saturday, potentially jeopardising their place in next year's World Cup. The nuclear-armed neighbours traded the worst violence in decades during a four-day conflict in May that killed 70 people. Pakistan was due to participate in the Men's Asia Cup for field hockey to be hosted by India in August and September, for which the federation had sought the government's clearance. 'After the recent war the security and safety of our hockey players will be at risk,' said a sports ministry source, who asked not to be identified. Pakistan will also not participate in the Junior World Cup in India in November, the source said. Pakistan demands Men's Asia Cup 2025 be moved out of India Once a force in international hockey, with three Olympic gold medals and four world titles, Pakistan has slumped to 15th in the rankings. Not featuring in the Asia Cup will likely cost Pakistan a place in next year's senior World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. A second government source also confirmed the decision to AFP. Pakistan's foreign office has not responded to AFP's request for comment. India stalled all bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which it blamed on militants based across the border. Cricket has been the most affected sport, with the two countries only meeting each other in multinational events abroad. India refused to visit Pakistan this year when it hosted the Champions Trophy, forcing the final to be staged on neutral ground in Dubai. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan will also not send its women's cricket team to India for the 50-over World Cup later this year and the T20 World Cup in 2026. They agreed instead to play their matches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan's hockey team last toured India for the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, finishing fifth amongst six teams.
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Bumrah strikes for India as Eng post 387 in Test
India's Jasprit Bumrah (2R) celebrates with teammates after clean bowling England's Joe Root on the second day of the third cricket Test match at Lord's on Friday. PHOTO: AFP Jasprit Bumrah marked his India return by gaining a coveted place on the Lord's honours boards with a five-wicket haul before England paceman Brydon Carse's maiden Test fifty frustrated the tourists. Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, took 5-74 in 27 overs as England were dismissed for 387 in their first innings after lunch on Friday's second day of the third Test. Bumrah's haul included a brilliant burst Friday of three for one in seven balls that reduced England, who resumed on 251-4, to 271-7, with the fast bowler dismissing captain Ben Stokes, century-maker Joe Root and Chris Woakes. But tailender Carse frustrated India with 56 after he shared a valuable eighth-wicket stand of 84 with Jamie Smith. England wicketkeeper Smith made India pay for dropping him on five with an innings of 51. That followed his impressive scores of 184 not out and 88 during India's crushing 336-run win in the second Test at Edgbaston last week. That victory meant India levelled this five-match series at 1-1 despite resting Bumrah in Birmingham. Initial interest Friday focused on whether Root, 99 not out overnight, would go on to make a hundred. In all 17 previous instances in Test cricket, batsmen who were 99 not out overnight completed their centuries the following morning. Root maintained the sequence off Friday's first ball, pushing a wide Bumrah delivery past gully for four. That fortunate boundary completed Root's 37th Test century, fifth on an all-time list headed by India's Sachin Tendulkar with 51 hundreds. Stokes, fit following a groin injury that hampered him on Thursday, had added just five runs to his overnight 39 when he was bowled by a Bumrah delivery that jagged back and smashed into off stump. Next ball, Woakes fell for a golden duck as he got a thin edge to reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, still deputising after Rishabh Pant suffered a finger injury on Thursday. Carse survived the hat-trick delivery but England were still struggling at 271-7. Their position would have been even worse had KL Rahul not dropped a relatively straightforward slip chance when Smith had made just five, with Mohammed Siraj the unlucky bowler. Smith went onto complete a 52-ball fifty including a whipped four through midwicket off Bumrah, with Carse also flaying the paceman through the covers. However, Smith was out shortly after lunch when he was caught behind off the persevering Siraj. Bumrah then bowled Jofra Archer, playing his first Test after more than four years of injury exile, to complete his five-wicket haul. Carse was dropped on 45 when Akash Deep failed to hold a tough chance running back towards deep midwicket. But the unconcerned Carse went to fifty in style when he launched a Siraj slower delivery for a superb straight six to reach the landmark in 77 balls. South African-born Carse was dropped again before he was last man out hitting across the line against a yorker from Siraj, who finished with 2-85 in 23.3 overs.
