Wiaan Mulder smashed the highest Test score by a South African with a remarkable knock against Zimbabwe - but denied himself a chance to take down West Indies great Brian Lara’s all-time record by declaring.
The No 3 was unbeaten on 367 off just 330 balls to seem perfectly poised to surpass the 400 not out made by Lara for the West Indies against England in Antigua in 2004.
And yet at lunch on the second day in Bulawayo, Mulder surprised everyone by declaring on himself, bringing the South African innings to a close at 626/5. The all-rounder is standing in as skipper of South Africa with Temba Bavuma rested for the Zimbabwe series and Keshav Maharaj, who captained the first Test, not playing in the second match.
The 27-year-old has usually batted lower down the order in his first-class career but was promoted up to first-drop at the start of this year, occupying the role in the World Test Championship final as the Proteas claimed victory at Lord’s.
There were few signs, though, of this sort of record-setting knock in a Test career in which Mulder had averaged 26.20 before this game.
While Zimbabwe’s attack is not as strong as most Test nations, Mulder took them apart with a fearsome display of hitting – after the hosts had elected to field after winning the toss. The South Africa captain finished day one 264 not out, a tally succeeded by a single batter on the opening day of a Test only by Don Bradman in 1930.
South Africa resumed on day two 465-4 but soon lost Dewald Brevis, with Kyle Verreynne joining his captain at the crease. Mulder would not be slowed, accelerating to a triple hundred off just 297 balls – the second fastest in history.
He soon went past Hashim Amla’s 311 to record the highest score by a South African in Tests, before seemingly setting his sights on Lara’s famous tally. However, he decided not to bat on, content with fifth place on the all-time list. In all, he hit 49 fours and four sixes to rewrite the record books.
"First things first, I thought we'd got enough and we need to bowl," Mulder told South African broadcaster SuperSport, explaining his decision.
"And secondly Brian Lara is a legend, let's be real. He got 400 against England and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special.
"If I get the chance again I'd probably do the same thing. I was speaking to our coach Shukri Conrad and he kind of said to me, 'Listen, let the legends keep the really big scores'.
"And you never know what my fate or whatever you want to call it, or what's destined for me, but I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be."
Lara’s 400 came just six months after the Trinidadian left-hander had lost the record, with Matthew Hayden’s 380 for Australia against Zimbabwe in Perth exceeding Lara’s 375 at Antigua in 1994 – a score also made against England. Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene (374) is the other batter to exceed Mulder’s 367.
The great West Indies batter also still holds the record for the highest individual innings in first-class cricket: 501 not out, made for Warwickshire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994 having been dropped by wicketkeeper Chris Scott early on.
South Africa, meanwhile, struck with their first ball as Codi Yusuf had Takudzwanashe Kaitano caught behind by Verreynne.
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