"Lara's record.." Wiaan Mulder explains why he declared while he was at 367 and didn't go after Brian Lara's record

Wiaan Mulder became the first batter to score a triple ton on test captaincy debut.

With a record-breaking performance on day 2 of the second test against Zimbabwe, South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder made history.

Mulder, who made his debut as test captain, came dangerously near to surpassing Brian Lara’s legendary 400*, the highest individual score in test cricket history, and became the only batsman to ever achieve a triple century in maiden test as captain.

With South Africa at 465/4 and continuing day 2 on an undefeated 264, Mulder reached his historic 300 off just 297 deliveries, the second-fastest triple-ton in the longest format of the game. He followed Hashim Amla, who scored an unbeaten 311 against England, as the only other South African to score a triple century in test cricket. Mulder then achieved the highest individual test score by a Proteas batter, surpassing Amla’s milestone.

Mulder then reached 367 from 334 balls at lunch on day 2, surpassing Amla’s record to become the top South African individual test scorer.

Wiaan Mulder explains why he didn’t go after Brian Lara’s record

Wiaan Mulder was then expected to push for the milestone of highest individual score because his side was on 626/5 at lunch and he was getting closer to Lara’s record.  He finished undefeated on 367 off 334 balls, an innings that featured 49 fours and four sixes, but in a shocking decision, he declared the innings. He was also very close to surpassing John Edrich’s test innings record of 52 boundaries.

Mulder’s 367* is currently the fifth-highest individual score in test cricket history, only surpassed by Matthew Hayden (380), Mahela Jayawardene (374), and Lara (375 & 400*).  In test cricket, his scorching strike rate of 109.88 is also the greatest of all triple-centurions.

After the end of the day’s play, Wiaan Mulder explained his decision to declare the South African innings on 626/5, leaving him stranded on 367*, within grasp of Brian Lara’s record of 400*.

“First things first. We had enough to bowl at. Brian Lara is a legend. He got 400 or 401 or something (400*) against England, and for someone to keep that record, it is special. I spoke to Shuks (SA head coach Shukri Conrad) – and spoke about letting the legends keep that record. Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be,” he said after day two’s play.

After declaring the innings, South Africa dismissed the hosts for 171 in the first innings before enforcing follow-on. At stumps on day 2, Zimbabwe are 51/1, trailing by 405 runs.

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