MULDER WANTS TO PUT IN MATCH-WINNING PERFORMANCES FOR DSG

Being dubbed “the next Jacques Kallis” before he even arrived at the Wanderers in his St Stithians school uniform to make his professional debut has weighed heavily on Wiaan Mulder’s shoulders over the years. 

But now 26, and much more experienced, Mulder is showing off his immense talent on a consistent basis for the Proteas on the international stage.

He is currently on tour in Bangladesh where the allrounder has delivered with both bat and ball in the ongoing first Test in Dhaka. 

Mulder certainly enjoyed taking the new ball, claiming 3/22 to help skittle Bangladesh for just 106, before striking a crucial maiden Test half-century after the Proteas were reduced to 99/5. His 119-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Pretoria Capitals’ centurion Kyle Verreynne was crucial in pushing the Proteas up to 308. 

It is not only in the red-ball arena that Mulder is making an impact. He also recently registered his maiden ODI half-century against Afghanistan in Sharjah.

The new-found confidence stems from Mulder having taken the step up at Durban’s Super Giants where he played an integral role in the Kingsmead-based outfit reaching the Betway SA20 Season 2 final. 

It seems the key to Mulder’s resurgence is the fact that he’s enjoying his cricket at DSG under the mentorship of another legendary former Proteas allrounder Lance Klusener. 

“I have always played really nicely in Durban. It suits my game quite a bit. I was really hoping before SA20 that I could join a team with people I could really relate to,” Mulder said. 

He feels that the high standard of Betway SA has also helped him develop his game, particularly as he is able to tap into the experience of DSG star opener and wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock. 

“Compared to domestic cricket, you are playing against the big names, playing against people who play all over the world. You get to challenge yourself where you really stand, and that’s what the SA20 is all about. It’s been incredible,” he said. 

“And Quinny … he is one of the best readers of a cricket match I’ve ever come across. He teaches you so many small things about how you should be going about different scenarios.” 

With DSG tripping up at the final hurdle last year, Mulder would like nothing more than to push the Super Giants over the line in Betway SA20 Season 3.  

“I would really love to win with DSG. We came so close last year. We have some of the best players in the world. I would love to put in match-winning performances so we can get over the line,” he said.