Kicknix

In a match-ending drama at the South Africa vs Zimbabwe Test match in Bulawayo, acting captain Wiaan Mulder recorded one of the finest batting displays in recent history of Test cricket—to leave a piece of history behind. Mulder remained not out on 367 runs, 33 short of Brian Lara’s legendary 400 not out, when South Africa surprisingly declared their innings 626/5 for lunch on Day 2.

Mulder’s marathon knock soon found itself inscribed in record books as the fifth-highest individual score in Test cricket history, but fans and analysts alike were left agog when the Proteas decided not to chase Lara’s world record. Instead, the declaration by the Proteas came after lunch, leaving Zimbabwe to face the bat under pressure.

The decision paid off immediately. On the first ball of Zimbabwe’s innings, pacer Codi Yusuf struck gold, dismissing Takudzwanashe Kaitano caught behind. The hosts soon crumbled to 15-3, validating Mulder’s bold tactical call.

In the post-match press conference, Mulder defended the declaration, saying:

“Records belong to legends—some things are better left untouched. Our focus was always to win, not chase personal glory.”

This leaves Brian Lara the only Test batsman to have scored a quadruple century, and his legendary 400* over England at Antigua in 2004 remains intact. Lara himself had previously held the record with 375—scored against England in 1994—before Matthew Hayden briefly took the lead in 2003 with 380 against Zimbabwe.

Though not eclipsing Lara, Mulder’s record 367 was the talk of the town worldwide in the cricketing community, with fans divided half and half about the move. Whereas some praise it as team-oriented captaincy, others view it as a missed opportunity for cricketing legend status.