Wiaan Mulder, leading South Africa for the first time, raced to an imperious 367 not out against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, the fifth-highest individual score in Test history. His 334-ball marathon carried the tourists to 626 for 5 declared shortly before lunch on the second morning.
“It still hasn’t sunk in,” Mulder told reporters. “I wanted to set up the match, not chase records, but once I was settled the runs just kept coming.”
The 26-year-old became only the second South African, after Hashim Amla’s 311 in 2012, to register a Test triple-century. He reached 300 from 297 deliveries – second only to Virender Sehwag’s 278-ball effort – and then added a further 67 in just 37 balls while sharing an unbroken 110-run stand with Kyle Verreynne.
Mulder’s knock contained 49 fours and four sixes, and his strike-rate of 109.88 is the briskest of all 29 Test triple-centurions. By overtaking Len Hutton (364) and Sir Garfield Sobers (365), he now sits behind only Mahela Jayawardene (374), Brian Lara (375), Matthew Hayden (380) and Lara again (400*).
Proteas batting coach Justin Sammons praised both tempo and temperament. “What impressed us most was his clarity,” Sammons said. “He kept trusting his options – even when the second new ball was taken.”
Zimbabwe captain Sean Williams admitted his bowlers had few answers. “We tried going short, going wide, changing fields, but he punished anything even slightly loose,” Williams said.
Mulder is also the first stand-in captain, filling in for the injured Keshav Maharaj, to produce a Test triple-ton. Beyond the statistical milestones, the innings has left South Africa in command of the series decider; Zimbabwe will resume facing a mountain of runs and a fresh South African attack.
“It’s nice to see my name next to some greats,” Mulder added with a grin, “but the real job starts now – we’ve got to take 20 wickets.”
