Proteas crush Zimbabwe and extend winning streak to a record 10 Tests

South Africa on Tuesday crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 236 runs in the second and final Test in Bulawayo to claim a two-nil series win over their neighbours.

The victory on day three extended South Africa’s winning streak to 10 Tests, the longest in the Proteas’ history and the fourth-longest overall in Test history. Since August last year, they’ve beaten:

• West Indies (once);
• Bangladesh (twice);
• Sri Lanka (twice);
• Pakistan (twice);
• Australia (once); and
• Zimbabwe (twice).

The Proteas, despite playing with a largely fringe, inexperienced team, completely outplayed Zimbabwe in both matches, dishing out a 328-run defeat in the first match.

In the second Test, player of the match Wiaan Mulder’s undefeated 367 was 23 runs more than the entire Zimbabwe batting lineup accumulated across both innings (170 and 220).

Mulder was understandably recognised as the player of the series for his efforts, which included scoring 147 in the first Test as well as taking seven wickets with his medium-fast bowling. In total, he scored 531 runs in the two matches.

In what looks likely to be a career-defining series for the all-rounder, he captained South Africa for the first time in the second Test.

“This is all about Wiaan and what a performance it has been for South Africa,” said Proteas coach Shukri Conrad after the match.

“It wasn’t long ago when people weren’t quite sure whether he should even be in the side or batting at number three.

“And it’s amazing how the conversations have changed now. So I’m really thrilled for Wiaan, and I’m sure Wiaan is a really happy man now as well.”

Young stars

South Africa blooded several youngsters in the series, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (19), Dewald Brevis (22) and Kwena Maphaka (19) all running out for the country; the former two making their Test debuts.

Domestic stalwarts Codi Yusuf, Prenelan Subrayen and Lesego Senokwane also made their debuts for the national side.

“I’d like to think that the introduction of some of the younger players has gone seamlessly,” said Conrad.

“And I’d like to think that they felt a real part of this series win, which they obviously have, given their performances. And I’d like to think they had a really good taste of what playing for the Proteas is about.

“Hopefully, that taste lingers with them for a very long time.”

Pretorius scorched a quickfire century (153) in the first Test, while Brevis scored a maiden half-century (51) as the pair shared a 95-run partnership.

Fast bowler Yusuf collected 10 wickets in the series, picking up at least two scalps in every innings, while off-spinner Subrayen took four first innings wickets in the second Test — his debut match.

Corbin Bosch, who played in his second and third Test matches, struck a maiden Test century with his undefeated first-innings 100 in the first Test. The fast bowler also picked up five wickets for 43 runs in the second innings of that match.

In total, he picked up 10 wickets and scored 136 runs in two innings.

Batting struggles

For the opening batters on the tour, however, proceedings did not go as planned. Tony de Zorzi was one of the few Proteas players with more than 10 Test caps to his name, but did little to enhance his standing with scores of zero, 31 and 10.

Matthew Breetzke, who was tasked with opening in the first Test — even though he bats in the middle-order in domestic first-class cricket — could only add 13 and one to the scoreboard across the two innings.

Senokwane, in the one innings in which he batted in the second match, scored three.

“They’ll be disappointed in the numbers they put out,” said Conrad about the openers. “It wasn’t easy against the new ball, especially that first Test match, but when the conditions are tough and the bowlers are executing, we must be able to do tough as well and we need to do ‘tough’ better.

“As a top order, they’d be hugely disappointed. Especially, a guy like Tony, who missed out in the [World Test Championship] final, came back in and he’d definitely have wanted to put in a big performance.”

For Zimbabwe, their bowlers — outside of short bursts with the new ball — were smacked all over the pitch in Bulawayo, where both matches were played.

With the willow, it was the 38-year-old veteran Sean Williams who stood tallest for Zimbabwe, with scores of 137, 26, 83 (not out) and 11. Nick Welch (55) was the only other Zimbabwean batter to pass 50 across the two matches on pitches that were relatively placid once the lacquer wore off the leather ball. DM