Wiaan Mulder etched his name into cricket’s history books with a commanding unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe in the second Test at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. His mammoth knock is now the highest individual score by a South African in Test cricket, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311 not out, and the fifth-highest in the history of the format.
Promoted to No. 3 and standing in as captain for the first time, Mulder seized the moment with clinical precision and remarkable temperament. His innings, laced with 49 fours and four sixes, came off just 334 balls. The milestone-laden knock propelled South Africa to a formidable 626/5 before Mulder made the bold decision to declare the innings, just 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s world record of 400 not out.
The 26-year-old all-rounder had earlier survived a scare on 247 when he was bowled off a no-ball. From there, he powered through the Zimbabwe attack with authority, rotating strike with ease and accelerating when required. Despite having history within reach, Mulder prioritised the team’s position in the match over individual records.
South Africa’s commanding first innings allowed them to enforce the follow-on and tighten their grip on the match heading into Day 3. Zimbabwe, already trailing 1–0 in the series, looked outmatched against South Africa’s disciplined bowling and the psychological weight of Mulder’s innings.
Mulder now joins elite company in Test cricket, with only Lara (400*, 375), Matthew Hayden (380), and Mahela Jayawardene (374) having posted higher individual scores. His decision to step back from a shot at immortality in favour of team tactics has drawn widespread praise.
As the Test continues, Mulder’s innings stands not only as a statistical landmark but as a model of selfless leadership and sporting maturity.
