South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder has joined cricketing history with a breathtaking knock of 367 not out, making him fifth on the highest score by an individual in Test cricket history, headed by Brian Lara’s unforgettable 400* in 2004. Mulder is only the sixth man to ever hit 350 or more in a Test innings and the second South African after Hashim Amla, who hit 311* at The Oval in 2012.
Stolen a 66-Year Record – Mulder’s Highest in an Away Test
Mulder has surpassed Hanif Mohammad’s score of 337 runs against the West Indies back in 1958 to own the highest individual away Test score, joining other greats Wally Hammond (336), Mark Taylor (334), and Sir Don Bradman (334) in this elite club.
A Record in South Africa – Stoked Historic Aggregate & Top Test Score
His unbeaten 367 is the highest-ever score by any South African in Tests, breaking Graeme Smith’s record of combined 362 (277 & 85) against England in 2003. He also becomes part of a rare group of South African players to have achieved over 300 runs in a Test match, joining Amla, AB de Villiers, and Bruce Mitchell.
Blistering Speed – Second-Fastest Triple Century in History
Mulder faced only 297 deliveries to score 300, which is now the second-fastest triple ton in Tests. Only Virender Sehwag remains on top as he achieved the feat faster, in 278 deliveries against South Africa back in 2008. England’s Harry Brook is next with his triple century in 310 deliveries.
Highest Strike Rate – Only Second Triple Century With SR of 100+.
Out of the 33 triple centuries in Tests that have been achieved so far, just two have been hit at a strike rate of more than 100 — Sehwag’s 319 (104.93) and now Mulder’s 367* at a scorching 109.88 strike rate.
Uncommon Session Record – 100+ in Two Different Sessions
Mulder became only the third batsman in Test history to make 100+ runs in two different sessions of the same innings. He made 131 in the last session of Day 1* and then 103 before lunch* the following day. Only Don Bradman (1930) and Matthew Hayden (2003) have done it before.
Batting First Under Pressure – A Rare Triple Ton
This was the third time in Test cricket that a player hit a triple century in the first innings after being asked to bat. The two previous ones were Graham Gooch’s 333 in 1990 and Hayden’s 380 in 2003.
Domestic Giants – One of Three South Africans With 350+ in First-Class Cricket
In the larger context of first-class cricket, Mulder becomes the third South African – after Stephen Cook (390) and Barry Richards (356) – to have scored 350+ in the country.
Zimbabwe Milestone – Highest Test Score on Their Soil
Mulder’s innings also becomes the highest Test score ever registered in Zimbabwe, which now beats Kumar Sangakkara’s 270 in 2004. His triple ton is just the third ever registered in any first-class match in the nation.
Enormous Difference Between Leading Two Scorers
There was a 285-run difference between Mulder’s 367* and South Africa’s second-best score in the innings — David Bedingham’s 82. It is the third-largest difference between the leading two scores in a Test innings, after Lara-Chanderpaul’s 300-run difference in 1994 and Lara-Jacobs’ 293-run difference in 2004.
Boundaries Galore – Second-Highest in Test History
Mulder’s knock had 53 boundaries (49 fours, 4 sixes) — the second-most boundaries ever in a Test innings, only behind John Edrich’s 57 boundaries (52 fours, 5 sixes) in 1965. His 220 runs from boundaries also stand as the second most ever, with Edrich again holding that record at 238.
A Series for the Ages – 531 Runs in Just Two Tests
Having contributed 531 runs in the current two-Test series, Mulder now shares the fifth-largest total in a two-match series. Sanath Jayasuriya (571), Wally Hammond (563), Andy Flower (540), and Brendon McCullum (535) have scored more.
Fastest Innings Run Rate – South Africa’s Innings One of the Quickest
South Africa announced at 626/5, having scored at a rate of 5.49 runs per over — the second-fastest scoring rate in history for a 600+ aggregate in Tests, only behind England’s 6.5 RPO against Pakistan in 2022. It is also South Africa’s third-largest Test total on foreign soil.
