South Africa's stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder has become the second-fastest triple centurion in Test cricket, getting to the landmark in 297 balls against Zimbabwe.
Mulder, who took over as captain for the second Test against Zimbabwe from Keshav Maharaj, who himself was filling in for Temba Bavuma, made a fine triple ton at Bulawayo. Batting at No.3, Mulder brought up his maiden Test double hundred in 214 balls, and reached his next hundred in 83 deliveries. The 297 balls taken for the triple hundred is the second-fastest in history, only behind Virender Sehwag, who needed 278 deliveries for his triple hundred against South Africa in 2008.
The right-hander is also the first South Africa skipper to reach the landmark, and is the youngest captain to score a triple hundred in the format, aged 27 years and 138 days. In the process, he beat Bob Simpson's 61-year-old record.
Mulder will now be eyeing Brian Lara’s record of 400*, the highest individual score in Test cricket. He’s also the first to score a Test triple on captaincy debut.
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2nd Test, Zimbabwe vs South Africa
After Lara and Mahela Jayawardene, Mulder is the third captain to breach the 350-run barrier in a Test innings. Among all captains to score a triple hundred in the format, Mulder is the only one to do so at greater than run-a-ball.
At the time of writing, he has hit 48 fours and four sixes. John Edrich is the only batter to hit more than 50 fours (52) in a Test innings. Mulder is currently second on the list, having gone past Sehwag's 47 fours during his 254 against Pakistan in Lahore.
South Africa won the first Test of the series against Zimbabwe by 328 runs, a few days after their memorable WTC win against Australia.
Fastest triple hundreds in Tests (by balls faced)
| Balls Faced | Player | Match | Venue | Year |
| 278 | Virender Sehwag | India v South Africa | Chennai | 2008 |
| 297 | Wiaan Mulder | South Africa v Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| 310 | Harry Brook | England v Pakistan | Multan | 2024 |
| 362 | Matthew Hayden | Australia v Zimbabwe | Perth | 2003 |
| 364 | Virender Sehwag | India v Pakistan | Multan | 2004 |
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