South African captain and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has revealed the reason for declaring the innings when he was unbeaten on 367 against Zimbabwe on the second day of the second Test at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo on Monday.

The right-hander had a great opportunity to leapfrog legendary Brian Lara’s record of 400, which is the highest individual score in a single innings of a Test match. However, Mulder paid his respect to the former West Indies captain and said it would be prudent if Lara keeps his record.

Mulder scored his runs off just 349 balls as he struck 49 fours and four sixes in his magnum opus knock.

Speaking after the day’s play, Mulder said in a conversation with Shaun Pollock, “First things first. I thought we’d got enough and needed a bowl. And, secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real. He got 400 against England (in Antigua in 2004) and for someone of that stature to keep that record is pretty special. I think if I get the chance again, I’d probably do the same thing. He (Shukri Conrad) said to me, ‘Let the legends keep the really big scores’. And you know, you never know what’s my fate or what’s destined for me, but I think Brian Lara keeping that record is exactly the way it should be.”

Mulder said he had never even dreamt of scoring a double century in Test cricket, let alone a triple ton.

“To be honest with you, I’ve never even dreamed of getting a double hundred, never mind a triple hundred. But it’s super special and the most important thing is putting the team in a good position to hopefully win this Test.”

On the third day, Zimbabwe were 57-1 in the second innings while following on, after the home team was skittled out for 170 in the first innings.

South Africa had won the opening Test by a huge margin of 328 runs.