MULDER’S MEGA KNOCK

PROTEAS captain Wiaan Mulder said respect for Brian Lara convinced him to declare 33 runs short of the former West Indies star’s world Test record against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club on Monday.

Mulder klapped an unbeaten 367 – a South African record and the fifth highest score in Test cricket –- before declaring at lunch on the second day of the second Test.

The Proteas’ total of 626/5 proved way beyond Zimbabwe’s reach. They were bowled out for 170 in their reply and were 51/1 after being forced to follow on.

Mulder said at the close: “Brian Lara is a legend. He got 401 or whatever it was [it was 400] against England. For someone of that stature to keep the record is pretty special.

“I think if I get the chance again, I would do the same again.”

Mulder spoke to coach Shukri Conrad, who agreed with his decision.

Mulder added: “He said to me as well, let the legend keep the record. I never know what my fate will be, but letting Brian Lara keep the record is the way it should be.”

Mulder returned figures of 2/20 in six overs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 170 in their first innings, although spinner Prenelan Subrayen was the pick of the bowlers with 4/42 on his debut.

Sean Williams, who was only allowed to bat after five wickets had fallen because of time spent off the field because of illness, slammed 83 not out off 55 balls in Zimbabwe’s only innings of substance.

Resuming on 264 not out earlier in the day, Mulder became the second SA triple centurion, reaching the mark off 297 balls – the second-fastest behind India’s Virender Sehwag, who took 278 deliveries against the Proteas in Chennai in 2008.

Mulder went past the previous highest Proteas individual score of 311 not out by Hashim Amla against England at The Oval in London in 2012 with successive boundaries off fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani.

Mulder faced 334 balls and hit 49 fours and four sixes off an increasingly dispirited and largely toothless bowling attack.

Zimbabwe with resume on Tuesday with Takudzwanashe Kaitano (34) and Nick Welch (6) taking guard.