Wiaan Mulder, South Africa's stand-in skipper for the second Test against Zimbabwe took a strange call to declare when he was unbeaten on 367 runs just 33 short of overtaking Brian Lara's record of 400 runs.
Mulder's call to declare came on day 2 in the post-lunch session with his team sitting pretty on 625 runs for the loss of five wickets. South Africa had more than four days still to go to eke out a result when Mulder declared his innings.
His knock of 367 runs off 334 balls took him into the top 10 highest individual run-getters in Test cricket. With his declaration call, he lost the opportunity to become the top individual scorer in Test cricket history.
Also Read: ZIM vs SA 2nd Test: All Records Broken By Wiaan Mulder After His Historic 367* In Bulawayo
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Twitter Reacts To Wiaan Mulder's Masterclass At Bulawayo
Mulder became the fifth-highest run-getter in Test cricket history behind the likes of Matthew Hayden (380 runs vs Zimbabwe in 2003), Lara again (375 runs vs England in 1994) and Mahela Jayawardene (374 vs South Africa in 2006).
Wiaan Mulder's declaration call was criticised by fans on X including former South African pace legend Dale Steyn and current spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.
“SA will win this Test with a day to spare, those few overs after lunch would never haunt them. 400 was a deserved. That said 367 is an amazing achievement. Congratulations Wessie" wrote Steyn on X.
“No man no no no... why the declaration. So much time left in the game. Could have told him he's got 5 overs to go out there and smash it to try and get to 400" wrote Shamsi who was equally surprised.
The Indian fans are comparing Wiaan Mulder with Rahul Dravid's declaration call against Pakistan in the 2004 Test series when Sachin Tendulkar was left stranded on an unbeaten 194 in the Multan Test. Some said that Mulder declared out of sheer respect for Brian Lara.
Also Read: Wiaan Mulder to Lead South Africa After Injury Sidelines Keshav Maharaj for 2nd Test vs Zimbabwe
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Zimbabwe Struggling At Bulawayo
Zimbabwe after South Africa's declaration call are struggling at 150 runs for nine wickets strilling trailing by more than 450 runs. South Africa are expected to enforce the follow-on and eke out a result sooner rather than later.
Also Read: IND vs ENG: 'India too good, but...' Michael Vaughan backs England to win 3-1
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