Mulder began the day on 264 out of South Africa’s overnight 465-4. On the opening day, he was bowled on 247 by Zimbabwe’s Tanaka Chivanga, only for replays to show Chivanga had over-stepped for a no-ball.

His triple-century was only the second by a South African, after Hashim Amla’s 311 not out against England at The Oval in 2012. Mulder reached 300 from 297 balls, the second-fastest in Test cricket after the 278 taken by India’s Virender Sehwag against South Africa in 2008.

In reaching 367 at the interval and with almost four full days remaining in the Test, Mulder had enough time to attempt to break Lara’s record without negatively impacting South Africa’s chances of victory.

Yet he opted against batting on, possibly out of respect for the legendary Lara.

The move has echoes of then Australia captain Mark Taylor declaring on himself 334 not out against Pakistan in 1998, having equalled the great Don Bradman’s highest score by an Australian. That record then went to Hayden five years later.

Overall, this was the 33rd individual scores in excess of 300 in Test cricket.

Mulder also passed up the opportunity to notch only the 12th quadruple century in first-class cricket.

The record for the highest first-class score is also held by Lara for his 501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994.

Coincidentally, Mulder was on the field for the last quadruple-century in first-class cricket.

Mulder was in the Leicestershire side against whom Glamorgan’s Sam Northeast amassed 410 not out in 2022.