First Test – Plays of Day 3: Proteas edge closer to victory but disaster lurks
Day Three is the traditional moving day and despite the entire first session being washed out, the Proteas took major strides to winning this first Test at Centurion.
Independent Media Sport’s Zaahier Adams picks five Plays of the Day.
Rain, rain go away
The Proteas knew rain would play a role in this Test, which played a part in their decision to bowl first. It stayed away for the first two days but it greeted the players on the morning of the third. It forced the entire first session to be abandoned which would have made the Proteas just a little bit anxious when they eventually got their chance to have a bowl.
Game-changer
Pakistan started well upon the resumption with Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel showing good application. In the process, Babar went to his half century and seemed set for the long haul.
However, the former Pakistan skipper gave it away when he struck a long-hop from Marco Jansen straight down the throat of Corbin Bosch on the point boundary. Babar was incensed with himself because he knew he had opened the door for the Proteas.
3 Equally tame from Rizwan
The next Pakistan wicket to fall also left a lot to be desired. Mohammad Rizwan gifted Jansen another wicket when his attempted pull offered Kyle Verreynne a catch down the leg side. Pakistan captain Shan Mashood dropped his head in shame in the dressing room as his two most senior batters virtually gave their wickets away.
You cannot keep Corbin Bosch out of the game 🤣
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) December 28, 2024
He takes the catch on the boundary as Babar Azam goes for 50 👇
📺 Stream #SAvPAK on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/wwEdhRhI7B
4 Jansen bounces back
After an indifferent first innings where Marco Jansen was surprisingly off-colour, the lanky left-armer bounced back in spectacular fashion to claim a six-wicket haul to put the Proteas in ascendency here at Centurion. He is a serial match-winner that the Proteas need to wrap in cotton wool.
5 To nightwatch or not to nightwatch?
Proteas coach Shukri Conrad is vehemently against utilising a nightwatchman. It created a rousing debate amongst the television commentators when opener Tony de Zorzi was dismissed shortly before the close. The situation was exacerbated when new batter Ryan Rickelton was also trapped LBW for duck, and moments later when Tristan Stubbs followed him back into the shed.
Conrad’s disdain for the role was evident when Temba Bavuma walked out to finish the day’s play alongside Aiden Markram, the Proteas teetering on 27/3 and 121 runs behind.