Match overview

South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 236 runs at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, in a Test match that effectively became a showcase for one of the most extraordinary individual innings seen in years. Wiaan Mulder scored 367 not out off 334 balls as South Africa compiled 626/5, a total that dwarfed the venue's average first-innings score of 212 runs across 46 Tests here. Zimbabwe responded with 170 in their first innings and 220 in their second, leaving them 236 runs short when the match was concluded. Mulder took the Player of the Match award.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field. The pitch at Queens Sports Club does not traditionally assist bowlers in the early stages, and that theory was tested thoroughly here. South Africa batted deep, Mulder's unbeaten 367 the centrepiece of an innings that was always going to be well beyond Zimbabwe's capacity to match.

The result extends South Africa's almost total dominance of this fixture. They have now won 39 of 40 Test matches between the sides, with one no-result and Zimbabwe yet to record a single victory across that span.

Venue and conditions

Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is one of the more batter-friendly surfaces on the international circuit, and the numbers from this Test confirmed that. South Africa's 626/5 was nearly three times the venue's average first-innings total of 212. Across 46 Tests at the ground, the average second-innings score is 186, which put Zimbabwe's two totals of 170 and 220 in context: they were not far from the venue average, but South Africa had set a mark that was never going to be threatened.

The toss has had a measurable but not decisive effect at this ground. Teams have chosen to field after winning the toss in 39 per cent of matches here, and Zimbabwe took that route on 6 July 2025. The chase success rate at Queens Sports Club sits at 38 per cent, meaning teams batting second win fewer than two in every five matches. On this occasion there was no question of a chase; the deficit was simply too large.

Pace and spin both play a role at this venue across the course of a match, and with South Africa's innings extending deep into the match, Zimbabwe's bowlers had to carry heavy workloads. Blessing Muzarabani, who took 8 wickets across 38 overs in a Test earlier in 2025, was Zimbabwe's most potent option, but even sustained bowling effort could not prevent South Africa from reaching their total.

How to watch

Test cricket between South Africa and Zimbabwe is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, the home of most touring series and bilateral Tests not included in the ECB's domestic rights package. Sky Go and a NOW TV day or month pass are the standard options for viewers without a full Sky subscription.

BBC Radio's Test Match Special covers selected international fixtures, and even when live commentary is not available, they tend to provide updates and analysis during play. For a five-day Test, the BBC Sport website and app offer ball-by-ball scoring alongside the radio coverage.

Recent form

South Africa arrived at this Test in generally strong form. Their 2025 results include wins over Zimbabwe, Australia, and England, alongside losses to New Zealand and Pakistan. That record across three different opponents reflects a side operating at a high level, even if they are not invincible against the very best.

Zimbabwe's recent form was harder to read. Their 2025 record shows losses to South Africa, England, and Bangladesh, a win against Bangladesh, and one match with no result against Ireland. A single win in five recent outings, and that against one of the weaker sides in Test cricket, suggested they would struggle to compete against a South Africa side that has just beaten Australia and England. The Bulawayo match confirmed that assessment.