South Africa's stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder passed up on the opportunity to chase down a record score as he played a pivotal part in putting his side into a commanding position in the second test against Zimbabwe on Monday.

In 1994, it was 25-year-old Lara who etched his name in the record books by breaking Sir Garfield Sobers' long-standing record. Having already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, West Indies went into the fifth Test against England brimming with confidence.

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.