Despite coming within reach of the highest individual Test innings record in 148 years of cricket history, South Africa’s stand-in captain Viaan Mulder chose to end his innings early. Yet, his remarkable feat still earned him a prominent place in the record books.
When Mulder went for lunch, he was just 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s two-decade-old world record. Instead of chasing that milestone, Mulder surprised everyone by walking off at the interval. Still, his magnificent innings secured a lasting spot on many pages of cricket history.
In the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Monday, Mulder scored an unbeaten 367 runs off 334 balls, including 49 fours and 4 sixes. South Africa declared their first innings at 626 for 5 within the first four sessions.
Let’s take a look at some of Mulder’s records
South Africa’s Summit
Mulder’s innings is now the highest individual score in South Africa’s 136-year Test history. The previous record was Hashim Amla’s unbeaten 311 against England at The Oval in 2012.
Mulder also set the record for the highest innings by a South African captain. The previous best was Graeme Smith’s 277 against England at Edgbaston in 2003.
Moreover, Mulder’s 367 is the highest score ever by a South African in a single Test innings. Smith’s 362 at Edgbaston had stood as the highest until now.
In first-class cricket, only one South African batsman has recorded a bigger innings — opener Stephen Cook’s 390 off 648 balls for the Lions against the Warriors in the 2009 SuperSport Series.
Surpassing the Little Master
Mulder’s innings is now the highest Test score by any batsman outside their home country. The previous best was Pakistan’s Little Master Hanif Mohammad’s 337 in the second innings of the Barbados Test against West Indies in 1958, a heroic effort that saved the match.
Only 33 triple centuries have been scored in Test cricket history. Apart from Hanif, only New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum reached 300-plus in the second innings — a 302 against India at Wellington in 2014.
Hanif’s 970-minute innings remains the longest in Test cricket by duration.
Mulder’s innings is now only the fifth highest in Test history, behind Mahela Jayawardene’s 374 against South Africa in Colombo (2006), Brian Lara’s 375 in Antigua (1994), Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth (2003), and Lara’s unbeaten 400 in Antigua (2004).
King of Zimbabwe
Mulder became the first batsman to score a triple century on Zimbabwean soil in Test cricket. The previous highest innings in Zimbabwe was Kumar Sangakkara’s 270 at Bulawayo in 2004.
Only Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth surpasses Mulder’s score against Zimbabwe.
Mulder also holds the record for the highest first-class innings in Zimbabwe, surpassing Mark Richardson’s 306 for New Zealand A against Zimbabwe A in 2000.
Storming Speed
Mulder reached 350 runs off just 324 balls, setting the record for the fastest 350 in Test cricket. No one else has reached 350 in fewer deliveries.
Matthew Hayden’s 402-ball innings for 380 now stands as the second fastest 350.
Mulder’s triple century came off 297 balls, making it the second fastest triple ton in Test cricket after Virender Sehwag’s 278-ball triple century against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.
Youngest Triple Centurion as Captain
Mulder, at 27 years and 138 days, became the youngest Test captain to score a triple century. The previous record was held by Australia’s Bob Simpson (28 years and 171 days), who scored 311 at Old Trafford in 1964.
He is also the first player to score a triple century on his Test captaincy debut.
Just Behind Edric
Mulder’s 49 fours in the innings is the second highest by any batsman in a single Test innings. The record belongs to England’s John Edrich, who hit 52 fours in his unbeaten 310 against New Zealand at Headingley in 1965.
Mulder scored 220 runs from boundaries (fours and sixes combined) — also the second highest in a single innings. Edrich holds the top spot with 238 boundary runs in that same 1965 Test.
