New Delhi: South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder scored the second-fastest triple century in Test cricket history. The skipper delivered a commendable performance against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in the second and final match of the series.
Not just that, Mulder also became the first-ever captain and second South African to achieve the feat. The all-rounder reached the triple hundred mark in just 297 balls, only second to Virendra Sehwag’s who scored the triple century in just 278 balls against South Africa in Chennai in 2008.
Mulder’s Gunning For Lara’s Record 🔥
The South African captain goes past 300, and now has the highest individual score in South Africa’s Test history, eclipsing Amla’s 311* 💪#ZIMvSA pic.twitter.com/rFujqU9fd3
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 7, 2025
Mulder climbed to the top of South Africa’s all-time list of triple centurions, surpassing Hashim Amla’s 311 against England at The Oval in 2012. Resuming Day 2 on 264, he wasted no time in adding to his tally, crafting an astonishing unbeaten 367 off just 334 balls.
Other records broken
His innings rewrote the record history books on multiple fronts, surpassing New Zealand’s Graham Dowling, who scored 239 against India in 1969. He also surpassed Graeme Smith’s 277 against England in 2003 to post the highest individual score by a Proteas Test captain.
In fact, his 264 runs knock on the opening day were the most by a South African in a single day and second in the list of any batter on Day 1 of a Test match.
Mulder also became the youngest ever Test Captain to score a triple century at just 27 years and 138 days. He broke the 61-year-old long-standing record held by former Australian skipper Bob Simpson, who scored 311 against England in 1964 when he was 24 years old in Manchester.
Mulder’s outstanding knock helped South Africa take full control after Zimbabwe chose to bowl first. Even his double century came off for just 214 balls, becoming the second fastest by a Proteas behind only Herschelle Gibbs, who hit the mark in 211 balls against Pakistan in 2003. The Proteas declared the innings; otherwise, Mulder could have easily chased 400. One of cricket’s greatest records, Brian Lara’s unbeaten 400 in Tests, was within touching distance. This selfless decision leaves Mulder fifth in the record books behind Lara, Matthew Hayden (380 vs Zimbabwe in 2003), Lara again (375 vs England in 1994) and Mahela Jayawardene (374 vs South Africa in 2006).