South Africa captain Wiaan Mulder declared when he was 367 not out against Zimbabwe – 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s Test record.
The Proteas stand-in skipper smashed 367 from 334 balls as South Africa reached 626-5 by lunch on day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Mulder was on course to break Lara’s record for the highest individual score in a Test innings, which he set in 2004 when he made 400 not out against England.
But Mulder decided to deprive himself a shot at one of cricket’s most iconic records following a chat with South Africa’s coaches and declared at lunch.
The 27-year-old said he made the decision partly out of respect to cricket icon Lara and also because it was in the best interest of his team.
‘First things first, I thought we’d got enough and we need to bowl,’ Mulder told South African broadcaster SuperSport.
‘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.’
Highest individual scores in Test cricket
400* – Brian Lara for West Indies v England, Antigua 2004
380 – Matthew Hayden for Australia v Zimbabwe, Perth 2003
375 – Brian Lara for West Indies v England, Antigua 1994
374 – Mahela Jayawardene for Sri Lanka v South Africa, Colombo 2006
367* – Wiaan Mulder for South Africa v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo 2025
Mulder’s belligerent 367 goes down as the fifth-highest individual score in Test cricket and the best by a South African.
After piling on over 600, South Africa bowled Zimbabwe out for 170 and had the tourists 50-1 as they enforced the follow-on.
West Indies legend Lara set the record the highest individual score in Test cricket twice, first in 1994 when he made 375 against England, and then again ten years later with his 400 not out.
Mulder is only captaining South Africa – world Test champions following their victory over Australia at Lord’s last month – due to injuries to Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj.
More to follow…
