South Africa vs England, 2019-20: 1st Test, Day 3 – Rassie’s record, Jofra’s 5-fer, 20 wickets for England pacers and more stats

England brought life into the Centurion Test with their gritty batting in the 2nd innings after they were set a target of 376 by the home side. South Africa were bowled out in their 2nd innings for 272 adding up to their first-innings lead of 103. Debutant Rassie van der Dussen scored a fifty while Anrich Nortje (40), Quinton de Kock (34) and Vernon Philander (46) made crucial contributions. Rory Burns remained unbeaten on 77 off 117 before the stumps on day 3 as England scored 121/1 in 41 overs.

All the statistical highlights from an interesting 3rd day’s play of the Centurion Test match:

Rassie’s world record:

1 – Rassie van der Dussen became the first cricketer ever to record fifty-plus scores on debut in all three formats. The ongoing Centurion Test was his debut in this format and he scored 6 and 51 in the respective innings. He made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe last year scoring 56 and ODI debut against Pakistan this year where he scored 93 runs.

England pacers share 20 wickets:

1896 – The only other instance of England pacers sharing 20 wickets in a Test match in South Africa was way back in 1896. The England team recorded this feat in the 1896 Port Elizabeth Test against the hosts.

1998 – The last instance of the England fast bowlers sharing 20 wickets in an away Test was way back in 1998/99 tour of Australia. They collectively bagged 20 wickets against the Aussies during the 1998 Melbourne Test match. The last instance of England pacers picking up 20 wickets anywhere was during the 2017 Lord’s Test against West Indies.

2016 – The 2016 Vizag Test match against India was the last instance of England bowlers claimed all 20 wickets in an away Test. During the 2018/19 season, England won four away Tests and picked 20 wickets which included run-outs.

An expensive 5-fer for Jofra:

6 – Jofra Archer had an economy rate of 6 during his 5-wicket haul in South Africa’s 2nd innings. This is only the 4th 5-fer in Test cricket despite conceding runs at an economy of 6+.

Shannon Gabriel had an economy of 6.41 during his 5/77 during the 2018 Antigua Test in Bangladesh’s 2nd innings. Stuart Broad conceded runs at 6.34 RPO in the opening innings of the 2015 Leeds Test against New Zealand where he took 5/109 while Dale Steyn took 5/82 against Sri Lanka in 2006 Colombo Test at 6.22 runs an over.

2015 – The last instance of an England bowler conceding 100+ runs while taking a 5-wicket haul was in 2015. During the 2015 Leeds Test against New Zealand, Stuart Broad took 5/109 in the first innings of the game across 17.1 overs he bowled.