Twitter Reactions: Faf du Plessis scores century as South Africa declare late on Day-1

The prospect of playing in the white jersey with the pink ball under the floodlights was back as the Adelaide crowd witnessed a gripping day of Test match. Earlier in the day, it was Proteas captain Faf du Plessis who won the toss as he elected to bat first.

The visitors made one change as they had debutant Shamsi coming in. On the other hand, Australia made 5 changes as Renshaw, Wade, Handscomb, Maddinson and Jackson Bird were brought into the fold.

South Africa were in a spot of bother as they were reduced to 3/44. Stephen Cook managed to hang on for a little while. Du Plessis who walked into the crease with boos from the crowd gave them a reason to cheer for him as he walked back to the pavilion.

In one of the best fighting centuries you would ever see, Faf du Plessis made sure he has the mint applied at the bat rather than the ball this time as he scored a defiant ton. Leading from the front and riding on 17 boundaries, he scored 118 not out before a strategic declaration at 259/9.

Hazlewood picked up a four-wicket haul as he led the Aussie pace attack. Starc and Bird also managed to get a couple of wickets each. Lyon failed to create an impact though he still got the wicket of Rabada.

Warner who had gone off to the dressing room after the 9th Protean wicket fell couldn’t walk out to bat as a result of the ICC regulation. So the mettle stayed on Khawaja and Renshaw to see off Australia throughout the day without losing a wicket.

Both batsmen managed to survive 12 overs with 14 runs on the board. Abbott and Rabada kept the run flow tight while even Shamsi found some assistance from the pitch. Remains to be seen how Australia bat tomorrow afternoon and who takes the first innings lead.

Right from Hazlewood’s bowling to Faf Du Plessis batting, right from Amla’s poor run to the poor decision made by Warner, here are some of the best tweets that took place during the course of the game.

Faf confirms he deliberately declared upon overhearing that Warner had spent too long off field to open. Crafty #savaus

— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) November 24, 2016

Sweet! https://t.co/GemnZHHGU7

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) November 24, 2016

The gamble of declaring didn't work for South Africa but was worth taking.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 24, 2016

Test cricket at its best. I thought the Aussies were top class today and @faf1307 played brilliantly

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) November 24, 2016

Sorry Warner, but this is already my favourite opening partnership for Australia all year. #AusvSA

— Cat Jones (@Cricketbatcat) November 24, 2016

Renshaw gets off the mark with a boundary to fine leg and with it gets the biggest cheer of the day! #AUSvSA

— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) November 24, 2016

Shane Warne, you are much better than that.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 24, 2016

That was one funkilicious declaration #AusvSA

— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) November 24, 2016

"He knows he has to open. The opponent is 9 down. The vice captain of the team goes off just enough to not bat. Unbelievable"

— Thejas (@Jazz_CB) November 24, 2016

Tabraiz Shamsi 18* is the highest by a South African #11 on debut innings
Prev: Sivert Samuelson 15 v Eng at Cape Town in March 1910#AusvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 24, 2016

I'm gonna be honest for a second, it's… not shit. #AusvSA pic.twitter.com/h3ZdyTTD3q

— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) November 24, 2016

Faf Du Plessis making sure the Aussie bowlers are getting the taste of the mint this time.. #AUSvSA

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 24, 2016

Faf du Plessis now becomes the first Test captain to register a century off the pink ball!#AusvSA

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 24, 2016

Faf du plessis
First Test 100 v AUS
First Odis 100 v AUS
First D/N Test 100 v AUS#AUSvSA

— Jasveer Singh Kharra (@imjsk27) November 24, 2016

Quality innings from @faf1307 especially given his teams position today, plus the controversy leading into the test. #AUSvSA

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) November 24, 2016

Nice photo of the last time Nathan Lyon took a wicket. #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/kTqoYb7pc7

— Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) November 24, 2016

Hashim Amla
last 14 Test inns at home : 924 runs @ 71.1 ( 3 100s & 4 50s)
last 14 Test inns away home : 213 runs @ 15.1#AUSvSA

— Jasveer Singh Kharra (@imjsk27) November 24, 2016

South Africa 3/89 at lunch. Great work from Australia to have not batted first and been all out before the Proteas made this score. #AUSvSA

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 24, 2016

If captain du Plessis scores a century today I'm changing my daughter's name to Faf. #AUSvSA #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/RDmzbVlEQP

— Mike Stopforth (@mikestopforth) November 24, 2016

Five is the danger number for the South Africans today.

Dismissed batsmen:
Elgar 5
Amla 5
Duminy 5 #AUSvSA

— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) November 24, 2016

Nice view from here!#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/YETnpZYy8w

— Jason Gillespie (@dizzy259) November 24, 2016

If Faf doesn't offer the match referee a mint at the toss, he's not the man I thought he was. #AUSvSA

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 24, 2016