Triple-centurion Wiaan Mulder expresses delight with his and team's performance massive innings win vs ZIM

Standby skipper Wiaan Mulder expressed that it was a dream-come-true moment to lead South Africa after they won the second and final Test of the series against Zimbabwe. The visiting side beat the hosts by a margin of an innings and 236 runs in the game at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.  

He also showed readiness to wanting to give it his all for the nation in whatever role and capacity in the future, once the mainstay leaders and players are back into the side. Mulder was content with other players also contributing to the comprehensive win for the tourists.

“Super special, something I dreamt of as a kid. To captain the country is one of the biggest honours you can get as a cricketer. Super proud. I was disappointed in the way I got out in the first Test, felt really good and took a risk and threw away a few more runs. Coming into this game, tried my best, just let the outcome go and focused on what I could do in the moment. It all came together,” shared Mulder at the post-match presentation.

I just want to play, whatever role, the coach makes the decision. I'll try and perform. We go to the subcontinent from here, my role might change, but I just want to perform. Lot of guys put up their hand, someone like Codi (Yusuf), (Prenelan) Subrayen, everyone contributed in their own ways and that's good to see for South African cricket,” he added.

The second Test didn't go to plan, a lot of work to be done: Ervine

Zimbabwe's captain, Craig Ervine, felt a combination of ill-timed luck in terms of players missing out and a lot of players missing out on chances and starts did not help his team's cause in the end. He also hoped for the youngsters to imbibe lessons from a veteran like Sean Williams.

“I thought there were a lot of positives we took out of the first Test, hoping to rectify our mistakes but the second Test didn't go to plan, a lot of work to be done. It's not easy for the group when you lose your premier opener in Brian Bennett, Prince (Masvaure) went down with a flu. (Dion) Myers unfortunately didn't take his chance.

"Guys definitely got an opportunity and got in, including myself, Sean Williams scored big in the first Test and if you have to do well, you need big hundreds. He's an important part of the batting line-up, just the way he moves the game and scores freely against the spinners, still got a couple of years in his legs I hope, the youngsters need to learn from him,” the Chevrons' skipper said.

To end his speech, he urged that his team learnt from how Mulder batted and from the areas in which the World Test Championship winners' bowling unit delivered to walk away with an easy win at the end. He also updated on the injury status of Brian Bennett, saying he will be ready to play again very soon.

“There are a lot of lessons, the way the South African bowlers grouped, we can learn from that. From Wiaan Mulder, the tempo at which he batted, didn't change too much, we can learn a fair bit. It's time for us to show it out in the middle. Enough has been said, time to put it into action. (Brian) Bennett should be good to go soon,” concluded Ervine.

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Bosch, Muthusamy skittle ZIM out to claim huge innings win

The two nations will now be involved along with New Zealand to take part in the Zimbabwe Twenty20 Tri-Series. The competition is slated to commence on Monday, July 14. All the matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club.