Mighty Mulder mauls meek Zimbabwe as Proteas Tighten Grip in Bulawayo

Wiaan Mulder broke numerous Test cricket records on Monday with an unbeaten 367 on Day 2 of the second Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The 27-year-old now holds several historic milestones: the highest score by a player in their first match as captain, the highest score by a player away from home, the highest ever score by a No 3 batter, the third-highest Test score by a captain, the best strike-rate for a triple century, the fifth-highest Test score in history, and the highest Test score by a South African.

One of the records that appeared to hold personal meaning for Mulder — or perhaps even caused a twinge of regret — was surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311, which previously stood as the highest score by a Proteas batter in Tests.

Amla has served as batting coach at the Lions, the domestic side where Mulder has spent most of his career.

“(I was sad) a little bit,” Mulder admitted, after the day’s play.

“I’ve worked a little bit with Hash over the last couple of years, and he’s obviously a Hall of Famer, so it was truly special, firstly, to go past his record. But I always feel like a lot of the legends deserve certain accolades, so I’m by no means close to a legend.

"Someone like Hash deserves to hold that record. But I guess it was my destiny, and yeah, take it as it comes.”

To the wider cricketing world, the big question was whether Mulder might challenge Brian Lara’s unbeaten 400 — still the highest individual score in Test history. At the lunch break, Mulder was just 33 runs short of the mark, but he instead chose to declare South Africa’s innings at 626/5, giving the bowlers two sessions to attack Zimbabwe.

Mulder explained his decision was driven by respect for the game — and for Lara’s place in its history.

“I think the first point of it all is we have to keep the main thing the main thing, and that is winning the Test match,” said Mulder.

“I felt we were in a good position to do that, and I didn’t have to bat any longer. And also, I think respecting the game is really important — letting someone like Lara keep his record.

"He’s one of the greatest to ever play the game, so he deserves that. I think we’re still in a great position to win the game, and that’s all that matters.”

Mulder backed up his heroics with the bat by taking 2/20 with the ball, helping South Africa bowl Zimbabwe out for 170. Debutant off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen stole the second innings with figures of 4/42.

Reflecting on his all-round performance, Mulder credited the belief shown in him by national coach Shukri Conrad.

“Shuks has backed me for many years from the academy days. I do think it’s freed me up a little bit to go and play and not worry too much about surviving and making every run count, but more being able to express myself and play with freedom,” said Mulder.

“I feel like I deserve a position in the team — or rather, I contribute positively with the bat, ball and in the slips overall. I think my role brings a lot of balance to the team. So, all of those things contribute to freeing myself up and just being able to play at the best of my ability.”

South Africa enforced the follow-on and now require nine more wickets to seal victory, with Zimbabwe trailing by 405 runs on 51/1.