In a sensational turn of events during the second Test between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Bulawayo, Wiaan Mulder etched his name into the history books by scoring a majestic double-century in his debut match as captain. With regular skipper Keshav Maharaj unavailable, Mulder not only shouldered the leadership duties but also led from the front with the bat, turning a shaky South African start into a commanding total.
Wiaan Mulder hits a tremendous double hundred
South Africa, having won the series opener, found themselves in early trouble after being put in to bat by Zimbabwe. The visitors were reeling at 24/2 when Mulder walked in at number three. Unfazed by the pressure, he stitched a vital partnership with David Bedingham to steady the innings and carry the Proteas past the 200-run mark.
Mulder’s brilliance didn’t stop there. He later built a fluent stand with young Lhuan-dre Pretorius, helping South Africa breach the 300-run barrier. The all-rounder brought up his hundred off just 116 deliveries before shifting gears with authority to bring up his maiden double ton in the post-tea session.
Mulder joins elite club with the double ton
With this incredible knock, Mulder became only the third South African to score a century on captaincy debut in Test cricket. He follows in the footsteps of Herbie Taylor (109 vs England, 1913) and Jackie McGlew (104* vs England, 1955). However, Mulder has gone one step further — becoming the first South African to notch a double-century in his first match as Test captain.
Globally, only two other players have managed this feat before him: New Zealand’s Graham Dowling (239 vs India in 1968) and West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul (203* vs South Africa in 2005).
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Here’s how fans reacted:
Wiaan Mulder brings up a sensational double century!
An absolutely phenomenal innings, showcasing pure class and composure on Day 1 of this second Test.
Take a bow, skipper! #WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/W5qpPk6sxd
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 6, 2025
DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR WIAAN MULDER ON HIS TEST CAPTAINCY DEBUT
– A Dream start, What a knock, Coming in 10th over & he smashed a remarkable Double Hundred against Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/nPt2qPcUWv
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 6, 2025
Led by example. Dominated with the bat.
Wiaan Mulder brings up 200+ runs on captaincy debut! #PlayWithFire | #ZIMvSA
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) July 6, 2025
Double century for Wiaan Mulder on his Test captaincy debut #WiaanMulder #ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/GHJdTMt02b
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 6, 2025
It took Jacques Kallis 242 innings to score his first Test double century
Wiaan Mulder has done it in his 34th pic.twitter.com/iGy4wZWjZR
— Werner (@Werries_) July 6, 2025
Wiaan Mulder is the best no.3 in the world.
— Dale (@ncakos316) July 6, 2025
Wiaan Mulder’s maiden double hundred is the second fastest by a South African. #ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/SyFEB6IIE4
— SA Cricket magazine (@SACricketmag) July 6, 2025
A beautiful Double Ton for the Proteas Skipper #CricketTwitter #SAvZIM https://t.co/J4jLYnNc4f
— Lawrence Bailey (@LawrenceBailey0) July 6, 2025
What a knock by Mulder. Second fastest double ton by a SA player. Take a bow captain! #ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/cAgxMAdr5b
— Eems (@NaeemahBenjamin) July 6, 2025
Maiden DOUBLE TON for Wiaan Mulder!!! #ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/KsmoTKvDQW
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) July 6, 2025
DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR WIAAN MULDER ON HIS TEST CAPTAINCY DEBUT
– A Dream start, What a knock, Coming in 10th over & he smashed a remarkable Double Hundred against Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/H8Thou6ddS
— 𝑨𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏 (@AnuranDey_96) July 6, 2025
DOUBLE CENTURY on Test captaincy debut!
Wiaan Mulder walks in early, leads from the front, and smashes a statement double hundred vs Zimbabwe.
Dream start. Captain’s knock.#savszim #wianmulder pic.twitter.com/1dhCU2Hl1x— Nivas Manepalli (@SrinivasManep10) July 6, 2025
Double delight for Wiaan Mulder!
A double ton on Test captaincy debut — only the third ever to do it:
239 – Graham Dowling (NZ) vs IND 1968
203* – Chanderpaul (WI) vs SA 2005
That’s some elite company! #WiaanMulder #ZIMvSA #TestCricket #Proteas pic.twitter.com/S43OiIlWZw
— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk) July 6, 2025
Double century for Wiaan Mulder , Lets go for triple booi @ProteasMenCSA pic.twitter.com/1swziJphdc
— CHAMPIONS OF NEDBANK (@mbayibongani) July 6, 2025
A maiden Test double hundred for South Africa captain, Wiaan Mulder!
In his first innings as captain, he smashed a brilliant double ton #SAvZIM #ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/6bSxTdtrKw
— Cric Updates (@CricUpdate58494) July 6, 2025
wow 200 runs in a single inning for Wiaan Mulder https://t.co/4SPrPJAbjO
— ale (@alexarcello) July 6, 2025
Only 3 players achieve to Score double century on his captaincy debut in test cricket
Graham Dowling (239)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (203*)
Wiaan Mulder *#TestCricket— Aromal G (@AromalG9) July 6, 2025
Wiaan Mulder becomes the 4th South African test captain after Nourse, Smith and Amla to score a double century and the ONLY to do so in their first game as captain.
What a player he’s turning into.
— Dale (@ncakos316) July 6, 2025
Wiaan Mulder! Just exceptional!
Wow
Double Century as a captain
200 runs are not a child s play
— CEDLUV (@Cedluv) July 6, 2025
Decent Sunday in Bulawayo for Wiaan Mulder. 214 balls for a double hundred. Second double by a Proteas batter this year. Looks like he’ll be staying in the no.3 spot.
— stuart hess (@shockerhess) July 6, 2025
Maiden double century for Wiaan Mulder.First ever Proteas batter to achieve this as a captain.Played
— Dinesh here (@dinesh_offl_06) July 6, 2025
South African captains to score double centuries in Test cricket :-
Graeme Smith (4 times)
Hashim Amla (2 times)
Dudley Nourse
Wiaan Mulder – vs ZIM today#ZIMvSA— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@_rhitankar_) July 6, 2025
*DOUBLE HUNDRED FOR WIAAN MULDER ON HIS TEST CAPTAINCY DEBUT *
– _A Dream start, What a knock, Coming in 10th over & he smashed a remarkable Double Hundred against Zimbabwe.#Zimbabwe #zimvssa
— Crickupdate (@maulikchauhan13) July 6, 2025
Wiaan Mulder is the third batter in history to score a double-century on captaincy debut!
— Rahul Warrier (@rahulw_) July 6, 2025
Shubman Gill at Birmingham & Wiaan Mulder at Bulawayo – this is only the second time two captains scored Test double centuries within a week’s time.
Only previous instance was by Mahela Jayawardene & Younis Khan in the same match at Karachi in Feb 2009.#ENGvIND #ZIMvSA
— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@_rhitankar_) July 6, 2025
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