Wiaan Mulder, a 22-year-old Proteas all-rounder, faced back and hip ailments that threatened his cricket future four years ago.
There was a serious danger that the all-rounder would be unable to bowl again, leaving him in a difficult situation. But, after making a few modifications to his bowling motion and working hard to understand his body, the 26-year-old Mulder is finally beginning to realise the potential that saw him make his international debut at the age of 19.
Mulder has blossomed into quite the talent after a shaky start to his Test career, putting in the type of exploits that red-ball coach Shukri Conrad would have hoped for after naming Mulder his No. 1 all-rounder.
Mulder scored his first Test century on Tuesday, the second day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram, to help the Proteas take command of the game until bad light ended it prematurely.
Mulder became South Africa’s third centurion in the first innings, following Tristan Stubbs’ 106 and Tony d Zorzi’s outstanding 177. For the first time since 2017, the Proteas had three centuries in a single innings.
Mulder scored his century after the Proteas elected to continue batting after the tea break. Mulder nearly ran out with his score at 99 after hitting a crisp single to mid-on off the penultimate ball of the over. He did, however, reach 100 in style, hitting Taijul Islam over the head for six.
Mulder finished not out on 105 after sharing an undefeated 152-run partnership with fellow all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy (68 not out), who reached his first half-century.
Mulder has had a good series so far, scoring 54 runs with the bat and recording figures of 3/22 and 1/40 with the ball in the first Test.
Earlier on day two, De Zorzi picked up where he left off on the first day, smashing the Bangladesh bowlers in all parts.
De Zorzi and David Bedingham shared a 116-run stand for the third wicket, until Bedingham was dismissed after an aggressive 59 off 78 balls.
De Zorzi added 33 runs to his overnight total before Taijul, who grabbed his second five-wicket haul of the series, caught him LBW.
It was a big knock, as the Western Province left-hander battled cramps and thirst on the first day to lay the groundwork for the Proteas’ huge score of 575/6 declared.
The Proteas struck in the opening over of Bangladesh’s innings, when Kagiso Rabada caught opener Shadman Islam down the leg side.
Bangladesh’s other opener, Zakir Hasan, followed shortly after, similarly nicking behind. Zakir questioned the judgment, but the third umpire immediately affirmed the edge.
Dane Paterson, making his series debut, next caught Mahmudul Hasan Joy behind when chasing a full ball, before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud with a magnificent delivery that bounced from leg to off.
When bad light was called, Bangladesh were at 38/4, 537 runs behind the Proteas’ first innings total.
