Wiaan Mulder breaks record for highest score in first innings as Test captain
South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder broke the record for the highest score by a batter in their first innings as Test captain during the second match of South Africa’s two-match series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Sunday. Mulder broke the record when he reached 240 in the 81st over.
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The previous holder of Mulder’s record was New Zealand’s Graham Dowling, who made 239 against India at Christchurch in 1968. Mulder joins an elite list of batters who have scored a double century in their first innings as a Test captain.
Batters with double century in their first Test Innings as captain
- Wiaan Mulder (RSA) – 264* (still batting) vs Zimbabwe – Bulawayo, 2025
- Graham Dowling (NZ) – 239 vs India – Christchurch, 1968
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 203* vs South Africa – Georgetown, 2005
Mulder is captaining South Africa for the first time as a stand-in for Keshav Maharaj, who missed out on the match due to a groin injury. He is in a rich vein of form, having scored 147 in the first match of the series. He is currently unbeaten on 264 at the close of play on Day 1.
