Final result
South Africa Cricket won by 236 runs
Player of the match: PWA Mulder
Result · Test Cricket
South Africa Cricket vs Zimbabwe Cricket
Result · Test Cricket
Venue par · 212Chase success · 39%POTM · PWA Mulder
Match preview & overview
Mulder's 367* powers South Africa to 236-run win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo Test
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.
Pitch report & venue insights
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo — 46-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2002–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
46
T20 matches hosted
212
Avg 1st-innings score
186
Avg 2nd-innings score
39%
Chase success rate
37
Avg powerplay runs
43%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
Mulder's 367* is an innings for the history books
Wiaan Mulder scored 367 not out off 334 balls, the highest individual score seen at Queens Sports Club. South Africa declared on 626/5, a total that was always going to be well beyond Zimbabwe's reach on this surface. It is the standout individual performance of the 2025 Test calendar so far.
Angle 02
Zimbabwe dismissed twice below 250
Angle 03
South Africa's head-to-head record is near-perfect
Angle 04
Zimbabwe chose to field, South Africa punished them for four days
Angle 05
Mulder named Player of the Match
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top batter markets may be more interesting than outright result lines when these sides meet, given South Africa's near-total dominance makes result betting relatively predictable.
- Individual innings milestones for in-form batters are worth monitoring in this fixture type; Mulder's 367 not out demonstrates the scale of scores that can be posted when conditions assist batting.
- Venues with low chase-success rates (Queens Sports Club's is 38 per cent) tend to make first-innings runs especially valuable, which may shape which team-performance markets hold more analytical interest.
- Zimbabwe's bowlers have historically needed significant over counts to take wickets here; bowling performance markets that factor in economy rather than wickets alone could offer more nuance.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about South Africa Cricket vs Zimbabwe Cricket
Who won the South Africa vs Zimbabwe Test in Bulawayo 2025?
South Africa won by 236 runs. They posted 626/5 declared in their first innings, then dismissed Zimbabwe for 170 and 220 across two innings. Wiaan Mulder was named Player of the Match.
What was Wiaan Mulder's score in the Bulawayo Test?
Mulder scored 367 not out off 334 balls, the highest score recorded in South Africa's innings of 626/5. He was the clear standout performer in the match and took the Player of the Match award.
What is the South Africa vs Zimbabwe head-to-head record in Tests?
South Africa have won 39 of 40 Tests between the sides, with one match producing no result. Zimbabwe have not won a single Test against South Africa in 40 encounters.
Where was the South Africa vs Zimbabwe Test played?
The match was played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The venue has hosted 46 Test matches, with an average first-innings score of 212 runs.
Where can I watch South Africa vs Zimbabwe Tests in the UK?
Test cricket between South Africa and Zimbabwe is typically broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK, available via Sky Go or a NOW TV day pass for those without a full subscription. BBC Radio's Test Match Special also covers selected international fixtures.
Did Zimbabwe win the toss in the Bulawayo Test?
Yes, Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to field first. The decision did not pay off; South Africa batted throughout the first innings and accumulated 626/5, a total Zimbabwe were never able to challenge.
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