By Rohit - Jul 07, 2025 05:09 PM
In an extraordinary act of selflessness and leadership, Wiaan Mulder, South Africa’s stand-in captain, made the unimaginable decision to declare the innings on 367 not out, just 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s legendary 400—the highest individual score in Test cricket history.
This remarkable feat took place during the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Monday. South Africa posted a commanding 626/5 declared, with Mulder leading from the front in what is now etched as one of the greatest innings in Proteas history.
Mulder’s innings was not just about volume—it was about dominance. Facing just 334 deliveries, the 27-year-old hammered 49 fours and 4 sixes, dismantling Zimbabwe’s bowling attack with clinical precision. His strike rate, aggression, and precision placed his innings among the most explosive triple centuries in Test cricket.
He reached his triple century off just 297 balls, making it the second-fastest triple hundred in Test history—only behind Virender Sehwag's iconic 278-ball triple ton against South Africa in 2008.
Despite standing on the cusp of cricketing immortality, Mulder showed that the team comes first. With South Africa in a commanding position and a win in sight, he chose to declare the innings, putting pressure on Zimbabwe with time to spare rather than pursuing personal glory.
This gesture has not only earned him global admiration, but also firmly established his place among cricket’s most respected leaders. The decision stunned the cricketing world, who expected history to be rewritten after 21 years of Lara's 400* record standing unchallenged.
While he didn’t surpass Brian Lara’s 400*, Mulder’s 367* shattered several other prestigious records:
| Record | Previous Holder | New Holder | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Test Score (South Africa) | Hashim Amla | Wiaan Mulder | 367* |
| Highest Away Test Score | Hanif Mohammad | Wiaan Mulder | 367* |
| Highest Aggregate in a Test (SA) | Graeme Smith | Wiaan Mulder | 514 (367* & 147) |
Coming into the Zimbabwe series, Mulder faced scrutiny after a lackluster showing in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia. But with scores of 147 and 367* in a single match, he has silenced critics in emphatic fashion and reminded the world of his batting prowess.
With senior players like Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, and Aiden Markram unavailable, Mulder took the reins and delivered one of the most dominant all-round Test performances in modern cricket history.
While cricket fans may debate whether Mulder should’ve chased down Lara’s record, there’s no denying the magnitude of his achievement. In choosing team over personal glory, Mulder didn’t just score runs—he won hearts.
And as South Africa eyes victory in the series against Zimbabwe, one thing is certain: Wiaan Mulder’s name is now etched in Test cricket folklore—not just for the runs, but for the spirit in which they were made.
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