SA's Mulder declares 33 runs off Test record score

13 hours ago

South Africa captain Wiaan Mulder made the fifth-highest score in Test cricket - but opted to declare against Zimbabwe rather than chase Brian Lara's record 400 not out.
Mulder was unbeaten on 367 at lunch on day two in his side's total of 5-626 in Bulawayo, but invited the Zimbabwe openers out to bat after the break instead.
His surprising decision not to continue for the remaining 33 runs on Monday was immediately vindicated as Codi Yusuf had Takudzwanashe Kaitano caught behind off the first ball of the innings, and the hosts were soon reduced to 3-15.
It left Lara as the record holder and the only quadruple centurion in a Test innings, against England in Antigua in 2004.
Lara also made 375 against the same opposition and at the same venue a decade earlier. That record was beaten by Matthew Hayden's 380 for Australia against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003, only for Lara to reclaim top spot six months later.
Mahela Jayawardene made 374 for Sri Lanka against the Proteas in 2006, with Mulder passing Sir Garfield Sobers' unbeaten 365 for the West Indies against Pakistan in 1958 for fifth place on the all-time list.
His innings was a South African record, comfortably surpassing Hashim Amla's 311 not out against England in 2012, which was the country's only previous triple century.

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South Africa's Wiaan Mulder sacrifices shot at Brian Lara's Test record during match against Zimbabwe

7NEWS

an hour ago

7NEWS

South Africa's Wiaan Mulder sacrifices shot at Brian Lara's Test record during match against Zimbabwe

South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder felt he had no right to dislodge West Indies great Brian Lara from the summit of highest Test innings scores and decided to declare his team's innings against Zimbabwe when he was 33 runs short of breaking the record. Mulder opted to end his epic knock so not to catch Lara's landmark 400 not out as his side posted 5-626 on day two of the second Test in Bulawayo. It was a surprise decision with the 27-year-old all-rounder close to a unique cricketing milestone, but he did achieve the fifth-highest Test innings, after being 264 not out overnight. Mulder then took two wickets as South Africa dismissed Zimbabwe for 170 in their reply and forced the follow-on to see their hosts 1-51 in their second innings at the close, still trailing by 405 runs. Mulder, leading the side for the first time as a depleted team take on their neighbours in a two-match series, hit 53 boundaries (49 fours and four sixes) in his knock. With plenty of time still left in the Test, he was expected to bat into the second session to chase down Lara's 21-year-old record score for the West Indies against England in Antigua. But Mulder turned down the chance and declared at lunch, later explaining he had no regrets. 'First things first. I thought we'd got enough and needed a bowl. And, secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let's be real,' Mulder said at the close of play on Monday. 'He got 400 against England (in Antigua in 2004) and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I'd probably do the same thing.' 'I spoke to Shuks (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 had brought up 300 runs in Monday's morning session, scoring them off 297 balls for the second fastest triple century in Test cricket, and then passed Hashim Amla's record score for a South African of 311 not out against England at the Oval in 2012 and got to 350 in 324 balls. But the decision not to go for the record stunned and divided cricket fans. Cricket journalist John Etheridge said on social media: 'So he declared at lunch with 367 not out. That's impressively selfless.' And another: 'The Spirit of Cricket lives on in Wiaan Mulder.' And another hailed Mulder when he explained why he made the call: 'This is the most impressive interview with a sports person I have heard in a long time. Funny, humble, insightful. The opposite of the arrogant, glory hunting 'personalities' we see today. And another: 'Class and character!! Good luck for a long successful memorable career!' But others thought it was the wrong call. 'Ridiculous. Records are there to be broken,' one fan said blasted. While another thought it changed the fabric of Lara's record. 'What it's done is changed the nature of the record; it's no longer organic,' they said. And another: 'What utter nonsense. It's sport, you take what you can get. Kallis never scored a triple, so why eclipse him, or for that matter Amla. So he thinks he is better than them.' And another: 'This is honestly just stupid.' Mulder returned figures of 2-20 in six overs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 170 in their reply, although spinner Prenelan Subrayen was the best of bowlers with 4-42 on his debut. Zimbabwe's 38-year-old Sean Williams, who had been sick and off the field during South Africa's knock, came in lower than usual down the home batting order at No. 7 but still scored almost half his side's runs with an unbeaten 83 off 55 balls. Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who was bowled first ball in Zimbabwe's first innings, was 34 not out in the follow-on along with Nick Welch (11), and they will resume the third day's play on Tuesday. South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 328 runs in last week's first test in Bulawayo and look well on course to win their 10th test in a row.