Wiaan Mulder was just 34 runs short of breaking the all-time Test record of 400\* before he chose to declare the innings at lunch, missing a rare chance to etch his name in cricket history.

After declaring on himself with 33 runs remaining to tie the highest individual Test score, Mulder said Lara deserves to keep the milestone.

Wiaan Mulder sacrificed a shot at one of cricket's most hallowed records to start mopping up Zimbabwe in the second test at Queens Sports Club on Monday. The first-time captain of South Africa was on 367 — just 33 runs shy of Brian Lara's world record 400 not out set 21 years ago — when he stopped his epic innings and declared with South Africa on 626-5.