David Bedingham Lauds Proteas Skipper after Majestic Innings in Bulawayo

By Benjamin Leshoro
7th July 2025

Proteas batter David Bedingham sang Wiaan Mulder’s praises following a sensational double-ton knock against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo yesterday.

Mulder ended the day on 264 not out, and was well supported by Bedingham and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who scored 82 and 78 respectively on the first day of the second test match.

He says Mulder worked his socks off to achieve such a feat, as he became the seventh highest scorer for South Africa in a single test innings.

"To bat a whole day, and to score 260 plus runs is a huge achievement. I know how hard he has worked, not only recently, but over the last five years or so.

"I'm really chuffed for Mulder, and the entire team appreciates his work ethic," praised Bedingham.

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Bedingham says Zimbabwe might have made a mistake by choosing to bowl first at the Queens Sports Club, and felt the pitch had slightly less bounce than it did in the first test.

He came in with the team in crisis at 24/2, but he steadied things with Mulder to put together a 184-run third-wicket partnership.

"I don't think the pitch offered much turn. I also think that Zimbabwe missed a trick by bowling first, but in the same breath, Wiaan played really well."

Zimbabwe’s Tanaka Chivanga seems to have Bedingham’s number, having also removed him without troubling the scorers in the first innings of the first match.

The batter admitted that it felt good to get some runs off of him, with their previous duels also won by the 31-year-old seamer.

South Africa were 465/4 at stumps on day one, and will probably look to go as far as possible to be able to bat only once in the match.

Mulder will resume at the crease alongside Dewald Brevis, who’s currently on 15 runs.