Faf’s captains innings put Proteas in strong position
South Africa’s cricket team made excellent progress on day two of the current test match against New Zealand at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
South Africa was in a very strong position at SuperSport Park at the end of day two in the cricket test against the Black Caps of New Zealand after an unbeaten innings of 122 runs by captain Faf du Plessis.
When play ended the Black Caps were on 38 for the loss of three wickets after they were sent in to bat just before 16:00.
The Proteas started the day in front of the stumps when Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy came out to resume the innings on 283 for the loss of three wickets, which they got on day one on Saturday.
Unfortunately Duminy did not last long before he was caught by Watling from the bowling of Southee for 88. When Duminy departed, Temba Bavuma joined Du Plessis at the wickets.
Bavuma took his time to get use to the bowling, while he tried to give as much of the batting opportunity to Du Plessis. He eventually faced 36 balls before he was caught by Bracewell from the bowling of Wagner for only 8 runs.
Du Plessis’ next partner stayed a bit longer and also got a few more runs. After Bavuma’s wicket fell he was joined by Stian van Zyl. The Capetonian made a significant contribution of 35 runs before he was Wagner’s fourth victim. Taylor was the man who took the catch.
The next man to join his captain was Vernon Philander, who was sent in at number eight. Like Bavuma he lasted long for the only 8 runs he eventually contributed. His wicket was also the former local boy and Affies old boy, Neil Wagner’s fifth in the innings.
In the mean time Du Plessis got to his fifth test century after 377 minutes before the stumps. Shortly after he celebrated this milestone, Du Plessis began to speed up the pace and a few spectacular boundaries followed.
Philander was followed by Dale Steyn in the batting order and the fast bowler clearly had orders from the dressing room to made as many runs as possible in a few overs. Steyn followed this orders to the letter when he hit two massive sixes with consecutive balls. One of them must be the biggest six ever over the northern border at SuperSport Park, because the ball disappeared over the roof of the grand stand.
Shortly thereafter Du Plessis declared on 481/8. The Proteas were in front of the stumps for 154 overs. At that stage the Skipper’s score was on 122
The Black Caps were sent in to bat just before 16:00, which meant that South Africa had about an hour and a half to try to get a few wickets.
The Proteas’ opening bowlers, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander did an excellent job, with one wicket each very early in New Zealand’s innings. Firstly Philander sent Martin Guptill back to the pavilion for 8 when Stian van Zyl caught him in the slips. Then Steyn gave Latham his marching orders after a slightly controversial decision by the TMO. The ball was caught by Quinton de Kock but it looked as if it might have missed the bat and hit the batsman’s thigh.
The third wicket came when Bavuma ran out Ross Taylor for only one run.
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