Brian Lara, Matt Hayden, Wiaan Mulder: South African batsman has Test records in his sights
Mulder was unbeaten on 367 from a staggering 334 balls at lunch on day two of the Second Test against Zimbabwe, and had three of the greatest Test batsmen in history in his sights as he pursued the record for the highest runs scored in an innings.
But Mulder, the first-time captain, declared during lunch, ending his chance at further history with South Africa at 5-626.
Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene was the next name on the leaderboard (374 v SA, 2006), with Matthew Hayden's 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003 sandwiched between two Lara knocks.
The West Indies legend scored 375 against England in 1994, then a decade later plundered an unbeaten 400 - a mark which has stood for more than 21 years.
But Mulder could have taken a blowtorch to that mark.
At lunch on day two, he'd smashed 49 boundaries and four sixes to take South Africa to 5-626, and rarely looked troubled against a well-beaten Zimbabwe attack.
Mulder had already left some all time greats in the rear view mirror.
He passed Leonard Hutton (364 v Australia in 1938) and the legendary Sir Gary Sobers, who cranked an unbeaten 365 against Pakistan in 1958.
Further down the list are the Australians in Dave Warner (335*), Mark Taylor (334*), Don Bradman (334) and Michael Clarke (329*).
Mulder already surpassed Hashim Amla's unbeaten 311 against England in 2012 for the highest score by a South African in a Test match.
This Test series has had a staggering impact on his career figures, too, as he brought up the second and now third centuries of his Test career.
Before the first Test, he averaged 22.21 with the bat. With his unbeaten 367, that has ballooned to 38.43.
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