Mulder stood down his chase because Lara deserves batting record

By Reuters

South Africa stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder felt he had no right to dislodge West Indies great Brian Lara from the summit of highest test innings scores and decided to declare his team’s innings against Zimbabwe when he was 34 runs short of breaking the record.

Mulder was 367 not out at lunch on the second day of the second test at the Queens Sports Club on Monday when he made the surprise call not to continue batting, passing up the opportunity to set a unique cricketing milestone.

“First things first. I thought we’d got enough and needed a bowl. And, secondly, Brian Lara is a legend, let’s be real,” Mulder said at the close of play on Monday.

“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,