33 Runs from Immortality: Why Mulder Let Lara’s 400 Stand

In a moment that could have rewritten cricket history, South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder walked off the field on 367 not out — a mammoth score that left him within touching distance of Brian Lara’s iconic 400 — but chose team over personal glory. The 26-year-old all-rounder, captaining South Africa for the first time in the ongoing Test series against Zimbabwe, declared the innings at 626/5, just 33 runs shy of surpassing one of the game’s most revered records.

Mulder’s decision, as it turns out, was influenced by a conversation with South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad during the lunch break on Day 2. The coach’s message was simple: “Let the legends keep the really big scores.”

“I thought we had enough runs, and it was time to bowl,” Mulder told broadcaster SuperSport after the day’s play. “I also felt that someone like Brian Lara deserves to hold that record. He got 400 against England — it’s special. And honestly, if I ever get that close again, I’d probably do the same thing.”

Mulder’s selfless call quickly paid off. Within minutes of donning the bowling cap, he struck twice in consecutive overs, then added a sharp catch in the slips to help skittle Zimbabwe for just 170. South Africa enforced the follow-on and had the visitors reeling at 51/1 by stumps, still trailing by 405 runs.

Already 1-0 up in the brief two-match series, South Africa now stands on the brink of another emphatic three-day victory — and a series whitewash.

A Knock for the Ages

Resuming on 264 with a fresh second new ball coming at him, Mulder barely flinched. He brought up his triple century in just 297 balls — the second-fastest in Test history, only behind Virender Sehwag’s legendary 278-ball triple ton in 2008. What followed was a breathtaking assault as he motored from 300 to 367 in just 37 deliveries, smashing 49 fours and 4 sixes in total.

Yet, even in such rarefied territory, Mulder remained grounded. He credited an unusual mental technique to help him stay focused — repeatedly singing “Zombie” by The Cranberries in his head throughout his seven-hour marathon.

“I never even dreamt of a double hundred, let alone a triple,” Mulder reflected. “But the most important thing was putting the team in a strong position.”

South Africa’s 626/5 is their highest Test total in nine years and gave their bowlers a cushion big enough to dominate without mercy.

Conrad's Faith, Lara's Legacy

For head coach Shukri Conrad, Mulder’s knock was more than just a statistical spectacle — it was a leadership masterclass.

“Batting at No. 3, facing the new ball and scoring at that pace with such composure — Wiaan’s innings was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Conrad. “Records matter, yes, but character matters more.”

Conrad’s comment about "letting legends keep their records" pays homage to Brian Lara, who has towered over the record books for more than two decades. Lara’s 400 against England in 2004 remains the highest individual score in Test cricket, achieved after reclaiming the record from Australia’s Matthew Hayden, who had briefly taken it with 380.

Lara’s legacy is defined not just by his 400, but also by his astonishing 501 in first-class cricket — still the highest-ever score in any form of the game.

Zimbabwe’s Brief Resistance

While Zimbabwe was thoroughly outplayed, Sean Williams provided a fleeting flicker of resistance. Battling illness, the veteran left-hander blazed a counter-attacking 83 off just 55 balls — registering the fastest Test fifty in Zimbabwe’s history. But the rest of the lineup collapsed under pressure from South Africa’s all-round attack.

Debutant spinner Prenelan Subrayen (4/42), 31, grabbed headlines with his guile, while Mulder’s two scalps and sharp catching rounded off an unforgettable all-round performance.

ALSO READ: Shubman Gill Scripts History with Record 269 as India Dominate Day 2 at Edgbaston