SA v Zimbabwe 1st day

Batsmen were made to look increasingly stupid as the floodlights got brighter at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday as the first day of the first day/night Test to be held in South Africa, against neighbours Zimbabwe, ended in a clatter of wickets.

While conditions were tough all day as the pink ball nipped around on a green-tinged pitch – the rapid deterioration of the ball requires more grass be kept on the playing surface – the fall of wickets accelerated dramatically in the evening session, with nine wickets tumbling for 88 runs.

As expected, South Africa dominated proceedings, with Zimbabwe 30 for four in reply to the home side’s 309 for nine declared. But as a contest with integrity, conditions were so loaded against the batsmen at night, with extravagant movement in the air and off the pitch, that the whole concept was made to look rather silly.

Aiden Markram confirmed his potential as an opening batsman with a bright Test future ahead of him as his superbly-judged innings of 125, in 264 minutes, off 204 balls, provided the foundation of the South African innings.

Many of the other Proteas batsmen were guilty of silly dismissals, with Dean Elgar (31) flicking Kyle Jarvis straight to midwicket, Hashim Amla (5) picking out cover-point off Chris Mpofu and AB de Villiers providing a sharp return catch to the same bowler after he had looked as classy as ever in scoring 53 off 65 balls.

Markram and Temba Bavuma (44) were both dismissed by Jarvis as twilight settled in, and the rest of the batting seemed as if it came straight from the Twilight Zone.

Jarvis, who bowled such a consistent line and length, was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers, taking three for 57 in 18 overs, while Mpofu also finished with three wickets.

Zimbabwe’s reply was soon in such disarray that captain Graeme Cremer said afterwards that they were considering sending in their bowlers in order to preserve their remaining batsmen for hopefully sunny skies on the second afternoon.

Morne Morkel flourished in the helpful conditions and was at his mean best as he took three for 20 in seven overs.

He trapped Hamilton Masakadza lbw with the first ball of the innings as Zimbabwe made an awful start to their reply, and then added the wicket of Chamu Chibhabha (7), Bavuma taking a great catch at fourth slip, and the big scalp of Brendan Taylor (0), caught behind by De Villiers, who was not only standing in for an ill Faf du Plessis as captain, but then also took the gloves when Quinton de Kock tweaked a hamstring while batting.

Vernon Philander then had Craig Ervine lbw for four, leaving Zimbabwe’s batsmen with such a big task on the second day.

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