Stepping in as stand-in captain in injured Keshav Maharaj and Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder scripted history at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo as he scored the second-fastest triple century in Test cricket. Mulder reached his maiden triple Test ton from 297 deliveries against Zimbabwe in the ongoing second Test of the series.
Who holds the record for fastest triple Test century?
The record for fastest triple Test ton belongs to former India opener Virender Sehwag who achieved the feat from 278 deliveries against South Africa in Chennai in March 2008.
Opts not to break Brian Lara's record
Mulder declared the innings after the first session on Day 2. He remained unbeaten for 367, hitting 49 fours and four sixes from 334 balls. This is the fifth-highest score by a batter in a Test innings. He opted not to chase after legendary Brian Lara's record of 400. After Lara, Hayden holds the second spot as he scored 380 against Zimbabwe. Lara had scored 375 against England. The fourth spot belongs to Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene with 374-run knock against South Africa.
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Mulder surpasses Brook and Hayden
Mulder overtook England's Harry Brook who scored triple Test century from 310 balls against Pakistan in Multan last year. The fourth spot belongs to former Australia opener Matthew Hayden who achieved the milestone from 362 deliveries against Zimbabwe in Perth in 2003.
Mulder breaks Amla's record
Mulder is the only player to score a Test triple ton on captaincy debut. Mulder became the first South Africa batter since opener Hashim Amla to score a Test triple ton. Amla had scored an unbeaten 311 against England at The Oval in 2012.
Mulder breaks Gibbs' record, enters Bradman's list
Earlier, on Day 1, Mulder broke the record for most runs by a South Africa batter in a day's play. Mulder scored 264 runs on Day 1. The previous record for South Africa belonged to Herschelle Gibbs who scored 228 runs against Pakistan in Cape Town in 2023.
Overall, Mulder is sixth on the list of batters with most runs in a day's play. The top spot belongs to Australia's Don Bradman (309), followed by England's Wally Hammond (295 runs), Sehwag (284 runs), England's Denis Compton (273) runs and Bradman again (271 runs).