Despite a blockbuster debut as South Africa Test captain, Wiaan Mulder completed a thumping victory against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo with perhaps as many questions and plaudits after declaring the innings while batting on a mammoth 367 not out in the first innings.

Anticipation was building towards a potential world record-breaking moment post Lunch on Day 2 as Mulder stood only 34 runs away from surpassing Brian Lara’s unbeaten 400, still the only quadruple Test century, against England in 2004.

Several former cricketers and experts lamented Mulder’s decision to declare the innings before the resumption of play, as South Africa eventually went on to complete a comfortable innings and 236-run victory within three days. The 27-year-old Mulder later revealed that Lara had told him he should have taken the chance to shoot for the summit.

“Now that things have settled a little bit, I have chatted a little bit to Brian Lara…He said to me I’m creating my legacy, and I should have gone for it. He said records are there to be broken and he wishes that if I’m ever in that position again, I actually go and score more than what he had,” Mulder told SuperSport.

Talking about his decision to declare on 367, Mulder had said that he had committed to it out of respect for Lara’s stature in the game.

“Firstly, I thought we had enough and we needed to bowl. Secondly, Brian Lara is a legend. For someone of that stature to keep that record is deserved. If I get the chance to do it again, I’d do it exactly the same way,” Mulder had said in a post-match interaction.