South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder halted his marathon innings on 367 runs—just 33 short of Brian Lara’s iconic 400—not-out record—so his side could focus on bowling Zimbabwe out twice in the second Test at Queens Sports Club on Monday.
The 26-year-old, captaining the side for the first time, declared the innings with South Africa at 626-5. He then starred with two quick wickets and a sharp catch as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 170 and forced to follow on. The hosts ended day two at 51-1, still trailing by 405 runs.
“First, I thought we had enough and needed to bowl,” Mulder told broadcaster SuperSport. “Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend. For someone like that to keep the record is special. If I get another chance, I’d probably do the same.”
Lara’s unbeaten 400, scored against England in 2004, remains the highest Test score in history. Mulder’s 367 now stands as the fifth-highest overall and the highest by a South African, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311*.
Mulder, who started the day on 264, surged past 300 in 297 balls—the second-fastest triple century after Virender Sehwag’s 278-ball effort in 2008. His innings spanned nearly seven hours and featured 49 boundaries and four sixes. To stay focused, he sang The Cranberries’ “Zombie” repeatedly to himself.
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“I never dreamed of a double hundred, let alone a triple. This is special, but what matters most is putting the team in a winning position,” he said.
Zimbabwe crumbled under pressure, lasting only 43 overs in their first innings. Debutant spinner Prenelan Subrayen impressed with 4-42, while Sean Williams played a lone hand, hitting a brisk 83 off 55 balls—the fastest Test fifty in Zimbabwe’s history.
Despite battling illness and arriving to bat at 56-5, Williams showed grit, surviving a no-ball reprieve on 79 and finding support from tail-ender Tanaka Chivanga. However, Zimbabwe was unable to avoid the follow-on.
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With the Proteas already leading 1-0 in the series, they appear poised to wrap up the second Test within three days and complete a dominant sweep.
Source: Agency