South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder rocked the cricket world with a gesture of unselfishness on Monday when he declared the innings while remaining not out on 367 — 33 runs away from getting to the elite 400-run club.
The Proteas, who had amassed a record 626/5 at lunch on Day 2, decided to declare their first innings with Mulder leading from the front on his first Test as captain. His 367 is now the highest Test score ever made by a South African in Test cricket, overtaking the earlier record of 311 by Hashim Amla.
But instead of pursuing the historic mark of 400, Mulder justified his choice in the day-after media session, quoting tactical purposes and respect for a cricket great.
"Firstly, I felt we had enough and we should have a bowl. Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend. For a person of such stature to have that record is justifiably so," Mulder explained. "If I ever get to repeat it, I'd do exactly that. I talked to Shuks (Shukri Conrad), and he was the same. Brian Lara is a legend, and he should have that record."
Lara’s iconic 400 not out, made against England in 2004, remains the highest individual score in Test cricket history.
The impact of South Africa’s massive total was soon evident, as Zimbabwe’s batters struggled under pressure. They were bowled out for just 170 in their first innings, prompting the Proteas to enforce the follow-on.
South African debutant bowler Prenelan Subrayen was the highlight among bowlers with four wickets. Mulder, along with paceman Codi Yusuf, took two each, and Senuran Muthusamy and Corbin Bosch contributed a wicket each to seal the whitewash.
Mulder, on 264 at the close of Day 1 — a record for any South African on a day's Test cricket — considered his mental game as he enters the second day and his journey to the national record.
"Whatever is happening between your ears is most critical, and there were a lot of things I was thinking," he said. "Were so many bad thoughts after I was bowled off the no-ball last night. There were plenty of positives too. I just wanted to remain positive. Just keep concentrating on my shoes and keep singing songs in my head. Today at breakfast, someone pointed out 277 is the record highest score by a debutant captain, so the first obstacle was overcome.". I passed Hash's (Amla's) score and only then realized that I had reached 312.
By stumps on Day 2, Zimbabwe were 51/1 in their second innings, still 405 runs behind. With a big fight cut out for them, South Africa remain very much in charge and on track for a dominating series victory.
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