Mulder makes 367*, the fifth-highest individual Test score of all time

Wiaan Mulder, captaining South Africa for the first time in only his 21st Test, posted the fifth-highest individual Test score by blasting an unbeaten 367 off 334 balls in Bulawayo against Zimbabwe. His innings comprised 49 fours and four sixes as South Africa moved to lunch at 626 for 5 on day two of the second Test before declaring with Mulder only 33 runs away from Brian Lara’s world-record score of 400*, achieved at St John’s in 2004.

Along the way, Mulder also became the 29th Test cricketer and only the second South African – after Hashim Amla (311*) in 2012 – to score a triple-century. Ending day one at 264*, Mulder brought up his triple century off 297 balls in the first hour of the second day, the second-fastest after Virender Sehwag’s 278-ball effort (vs South Africa in 2008).

From there, Mulder scored his next 67 runs in only 37 balls in No. 7 Kyle Verreynne’s company. Once Mulder went past Len Hutton’s 364 and Sir Garfield Sobers’ 365* before lunch, he was in the top five with only Mahela Jayawardene (374), Brian Lara (375), Matthew Hayden (380) and Lara (400*) ahead of him.

Mulder’s runs came at breakneck speed, and his innings strike-rate of 109.88 is the best among all triple-centurions. He is also the first captain to score a Test triple-century as he is standing in for the injured Keshav Maharaj.