ZIM vs SA [WATCH]: Blessing Muzarabani creates havoc with sensational run-out to dismiss Wiaan Mulder

South Africa’s return to Test cricket in Zimbabwe after more than a decade saw a tense start under stand-in captain Keshav Maharaj in Bulawayo on Day 1. Maharaj, the only survivor from the 2014 Harare Test, opted to bat first, hoping to set the tone on a dry surface. But as the Zimbabwean pacers kept things tight, the pressure mounted on the visiting batters. Amid this struggle came a game-changing moment of awareness and athleticism, crafted single-handedly by Blessing Muzarabani.

Blessing Muzarabani’s brilliance in the field ends Wiaan Mulder’s innings in dramatic fashion

In the 23rd over, Muzarabani delivered a probing length ball that angled back in toward off-stump. Wiaan Mulder, batting cautiously on 17, tapped the ball with soft hands toward the leg side. At first glance, it seemed like a routine dot ball. But what followed was utter chaos. A brief glance, a hesitant call, and then a panicked attempt to sneak a run, all within seconds.

As the ball trickled off the pitch, Muzarabani, showing exceptional alertness, sprinted to his right in his follow-through. Without relying on a fielder, he picked the ball up himself, turned in one fluid motion, and unleashed a direct throw at the non-striker’s end. His precision was flawless. The ball crashed into the stumps with Mulder well short, diving but defeated.

What made the wicket remarkable wasn’t just the direct hit, it was the sequence: the awareness to react instantly, the fitness to chase the ball himself, and the composure to execute under pressure. It was a wicket purely of Muzarabani’s making,  no fielding help, no margin for error. The run-out not only ended a budding innings but also epitomized Zimbabwe’s spirited intent with the ball and in the field, leaving South Africa reeling at 55/4 in a dramatic opening session.

Here’s the video:

Sharp fielding from Muzarabani⚡

Total mix-up and Mulder pays the price! Muzarabani sprints, fires, and hits bullseye at the non-striker’s end.#ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/n2lxRyswPn

— FanCode (@FanCode) June 28, 2025

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Lhuan-dre Pretorius anchors as South Africa recover from early wobble on Day 1 in Bulawayo

South Africa, playing their first Test on Zimbabwean soil in 11 years, endured a shaky start before debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius turned the tide with a composed unbeaten 94 on Day 1 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Opting to bat first under stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj, South Africa crumbled to 23/3 as Tanaka Chivanga tore through the top order, removing Tony de Zorzi, Breetzke and David Bedingham cheaply.

Mulder’s bizarre run-out, orchestrated by a stunning direct hit from Muzarabani, deepened the trouble at 55/4. But the young duo of Pretorius and Dewald Brevis counterattacked brilliantly, adding 95 runs at a brisk pace. Brevis was particularly explosive, smashing four sixes en route to 51 off just 41 balls. After his dismissal, Kyle Verreynne chipped in with a quick 10 before falling to Masakadza. By the second session’s close, South Africa had recovered to 201/6 in 48 overs, with Pretorius leading the resistance and Corbin Bosch steady in support. Muzarabani’s miserly spell of 1/21 and Chivanga’s incisive strikes kept Zimbabwe competitive, but Pretorius’ knock stood as the defining act of the day.

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