Wiaan Mulder was named South Africa’s captain for the second Test against Zimbabwe, held in Bulawayo. Keshav Maharaj, who led the side in the first Test, was ruled out due to a left groin injury he sustained in the series opener.
After being asked to bat first, South Africa lost Tony de Zorzi at 11 as Mulder came in to bat at No. 3 in his 21st Test for the Proteas, but his first as South Africa captain.
The all-rounder went on to bat for the rest of the day and finished unbeaten on 264 runs off 259 balls to help the visitors reach 465/4 by stumps on Day 1.
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In this article, TSN takes a look at the records broken by Mulder on his way to scoring 264* on the day.
Records broken by Wiaan Mulder on Day 1 vs Zimbabwe
Most runs in first innings on Test captaincy debut
During his marathon double-hundred, Mulder went past the likes of Joe Root and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, becoming the first player to score over 250 in his debut Test as captain.
He broke Graham Dowling's 57-year-old record of 239 runs.
| Batter | Runs | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiaan Mulder (SA) | 264* | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| Graham Dowling (NZ) | 239 | India | Christchurch | 1968 |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) | 203* | South Africa | Georgetown | 2005 |
| Clem Hill (AUS) | 191 | South Africa | SCG | 1910 |
| Joe Root (ENG) | 190 | South Africa | Lord's | 2017 |
Centuries on Test captaincy debut for South Africa
Mulder became only the third South African to score a century in his first Test as a captain and only the first to do so after their return to international cricket in 1991-- a feat even Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, and Hashim Amla did not achieve.
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| Batter | Score | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiaan Mulder | 264* | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| Jackie McGlew | 104* | England | Manchester | 1955 |
| Herbie Taylor | 109 | England | Durban | 1913 |
Highest score for a South African captain
Mulder's unbeaten 264 puts him just 13 runs behind Graeme Smith’s highest Test score as South Africa’s captain (277).
Previously, only Smith has crossed the 250-run mark on two occasions for the Proteas as a skipper.
| Batter | Score | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graeme Smith | 277 | England | Birmingham | 2003 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 264* | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| Graeme Smith | 259 | England | Lord's | 2003 |
Additionally, Mulder, who took 214 balls to reach the double hundred, became the second-fastest South African to do so after Herschelle Gibbs' 211-ball double ton vs. Pakistan in 2003.
He also now has the 4th fastest 250 that he reached in 243 balls — Ben Stokes holds the record to get it in 196 balls, followed by Virender Sehwag's 207 and 225 ball 250s.
(Stats credit: Cricbuzz)