Twitter Reactions: Dean Elgar's brilliance puts South Africa in command in Port Elizabeth Test
South Africa finished the first day of the second Test match at 278/5.
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After South Africa registered an emphatic 220-run win in the first Test at the Kingsmead, Durban earlier this week, the focus is on the all-important second and final Test match to decide the fate of the series. The series-deciding Test is currently underway at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth, and the hosts, yet again, seem to be in a very strong position after the first day’s play.
The Proteas might be fielding a depleted squad with most of their key players participating in the ongoing IPL 2022, but they have, by no means, given a free pass to Bangladesh and have once again risen to the occasion when it mattered the most by making the visitors toil hard for breakthroughs.
South Africa batters dominate on Day 1
South African skipper Dean Elgar called it right at the toss and decided to bat first. The captain himself led his team from the front, opening the batting as he and Sarel Erwee first added 52 runs for the opening stand, and then went on to add 81 runs with Keegan Petersen for the second wicket. Elgar scored 70 runs from 89 deliveries before being caught by Liton Das off Taijul Islam.
After the southpaw’s dismissal, the visitors might have heaved a sigh of relief, but the Proteas’ middle-order accepted the challenge and transferred the pressure back on to the bowlers. Vital knocks from Petersen (64), Temba Bavuma (67), and Ryan Rickelton (42) ensured that South Africa reached a position where one or two more partnerships will propel them to a mammoth first innings total. They finished the first day’s play at 278/5.
Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder would be resuming the innings for the hosts on the second day and they would be expected to add a few more precious runs. Verreynne remains unbeaten on 10 runs from 24 balls whereas Mulder has faced 19 deliveries and is yet to get off the mark. Taijul Islam has been the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh with figures of 3/77.
Here’s how Twitter reacted as South Africa were in a strong position after the end of the first day’s play
🚫 DAY 1 | CLOSE OF PLAY
Dean Elgar (70), Temba Bavuma (67) and Keegan Petersen (64) all grabbed half-centuries on Day 1 of the second #BetwayTest as the #Proteas reach the end of the day on 278/5#SAvBAN #BePartOfIt | @Betway_za pic.twitter.com/QefnWdUWaw
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) April 8, 2022
Honours even at stumps on Day 1️⃣ of the second Test?#SAvBAN | #WTC23 | https://t.co/wJGHwXAFCM pic.twitter.com/VlxJf99GLv
— ICC (@ICC) April 8, 2022
Even on the first day of this Test match where the wicket is not offering turn, Taijul Islam was our best bowler. Easy to say how badly we missed him in the first game. #SAvsBAN
— Saif Ahmed (@saifahmed75) April 8, 2022
For all the industries performance by their pace bowlers its wild that Bangladesh refused to play Taijul Islam at Durban
No batter looks comfortable against him on a much flatter pitch today #SAvBAN
— Tim Dale Lace (@Tim32_cricket) April 8, 2022
As someone who studies and teaches cricket, I’ve told people half a decade ago about the quality of Taijul Islam’s bowling but many thought I was overrating… #SAvsBAN
— Nkululeko wa Serame (@Adv_Serame) April 8, 2022
Day 1 belonged to South Africa who chose to bat first in the 2nd Test. Dean Elgar (70), Temba Bavuma (67), Keegan Petersen (64) registered fifties as they go to stumps on Day 1 with 278/5 on the board #SAvBAN
— crictrend.com (@crictrend_) April 8, 2022
Captain #DeanElgar is doing the best for his team. https://t.co/RxKjM9ftSg
— Lethabo Nkhumise (@LethaboNkhumis3) April 8, 2022
Most fours hit in Test cricket in the ongoing calendar year 2022 :
76 – Usman Khawaja 🇦🇺
50 – Zak Crawley 🏴
50* – Dean Elgar 🇿🇦
48 – Devon Conway 🇳🇿
48 – Keegan Petersen 🇿🇦Elgar today became the third player to reach 50 fours in Tests this year.#SAvBAN
— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) April 8, 2022
“It is Test cricket. It’s a man’s environment when it comes to playing at this level.”
Dean Elgar is absolutely correct. #savban
— Lucas (@3ptspainshking) April 8, 2022
Dean Elgar has clearly done some serious work on his tempo and its refreshing to watch. As solid as Temba is, he could also work on his tempo as it puts pressure on his partners when he gets stuck. #SSCricket #SAvsBAN
— Patrick Owgan (@PaddyOwgan) April 8, 2022
Dean Elgar's last six scores against Bangladesh
199
18
113
64
67
70#SAvBAN…— IPL 2022 (@IPL_2022_INDIA) April 8, 2022
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