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South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder declared at 367 runs, honouring Brian Lara’s 400-run record.
Wiaan Mulder now has South Africa’s highest individual score in an innings. (AFP Photo)
South Africa’s stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder has said that Windies legend Brian Lara deserves to hold the 400-run record in Tests and hence he decided that he would declare way before that milestone, as he ended South Africa’s first innings at 626/5 with a surprise declaration.
Zimbabwe were bowled out for a paltry 170 in their first innings and were forced to follow on, 456 runs behind, after Mulder, unbeaten on 367, declared South Africa’s first innings during the lunch interval on 626/5.
Mulder, captaining South Africa for the first time, was just 33 runs short of Lara’s world Test record of 400* when he declared.
“I thought we had enough and we needed to bowl. Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend. For someone of that stature to keep that record is deserved. If I get the chance to do it again, I’d do it the same way,” Mulder said while speaking after the day’s play.
“I spoke to Shuks (Shukri Conrad) and he felt the same way. Brian Lara is a legend and he deserves to keep that record,” Mulder added.
The stand-in skipper took two wickets and held a catch at slip as Zimbabwe crumbled in reply.
Sean Williams, who was just permitted tSeveo bat after five wickets had fallen due to time spent off the field because of illness, slammed 83* off 55 deliveries in Zimbabwe’s sole knock of substance.
Earlier, the 27-year-old Mulder went past the previous highest Proteas individual score of 311* set by Hashim Amla against England at The Oval in London in 2012.
Resuming on 264*, Mulder became the second Proteas triple centurion, reaching the mark off 297 deliveries– the second-fastest behind India’s Virender Sehwag, who took 278 balls against South Africa in Chennai in 2007/08.
Mulder equalled Amla’s record, then went past it with consecutive fours off pacer Blessing Muzarabani.
Mulder faced 334 deliveries and hit 49 boundaries and four sixes off a dispirited and toothless Zimbabwe bowling attack.
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