Wiaan Mulder, who was the stand-in captain for South Africa, explained why he didn't pursue breaking Brian Lara's record for the most runs scored by a single player in a Test match. At the lunch break on day two of the second test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, the right-handed batter was about to claim the milestone for himself, having scored 367 runs not out. But in the second session, he made the decision to call the innings and try to defeat the hosts.

Mulder claimed after stumps on Day 2 that Brian Lara is a legend and that he should hold onto that record. The 27-year-old South African all-rounder was hitting like a pro, and it looked like he was going to surpass the record in the opening minutes of the second session.

But he chose to declare against the run of play. This choice to stop batting further divided public opinion on social media. Mulder might have continued to bat and pursued the record, according to Dale Steyn, Tabraiz Shamsi, and others.

"I thought we had enough to begin with, and we need to bowl. Secondly, let's face it, Brian Lara is a legend. Against England, he scored 401 or more. And for someone of that height to maintain that record is quite amazing. If I had the opportunity, I would likely do the same thing. After stumps on Day 2, Mulder told SuperSport, "Speaking to the head coach Shukri Conrad, he kind of said to me as well, like, listen, let the legends keep the really big scores."

You can never predict my destiny or whatever you want to call it—what's in store for me. However, I think Brian Lara retaining that record is the way it should be, he said.

With a strike rate of 109.88, Mulder's knock comprised 49 fours and 4 sixes. He faced 334 balls. When the score was 625/6, he chose to call time on South Africa's innings.

'The vibe is really unique'

Additionally, Mulder stated that it is quite unique to score this many points and continue batting for such a long period, which helped his team gain the upper hand in the game. Following his statement, the Proteas bowled out the home side for 170, and the visitors then went for the kill by enforcing the follow-on.

"Quite unique." I've never even considered the possibility of hitting a double century, much less a triple century. Most significantly, it has given the team a strong chance of winning this Test. I was nowhere near good enough when I first started representing South Africa. Fortunately, I've had the chance to learn from some amazing players.

In the series opener against Zimbabwe, Mulder had also reached a hundred. Following his poor performance with the bat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground, the Proteas all-rounder was the center of attention.

"Going to England really allowed me to learn about the type of batter I want to be and identify my weaknesses." My experience in England taught me a lot. There were so many ideas, like, You have got enough, he stated.

With his score of 311 against England in 2012, Hashim Amla previously held the record for the highest score by a South African batter, which Mulder has now broken.

"It was quite memorable when I went past Hash's score, although I didn't realize it at first," said Mulder.

On Day 2, Zimbabwe was 51/1 at the end of the innings, with the home team still 405 runs behind.

Read Also: Virat Kohli & Anushka Sharma Cheer On Djokovic’s Wimbledon Masterclass in London
Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!