Twitter Reactions: South Africa start series with a resounding victory in Centurion

After Pakistan were shot out for 190 at the close of play on the second day, South Africa were required to score 149 in order to win the opening Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion. In the end, Faf du Plessis and Co played some gritty cricket and won the match by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Pakistan would be disappointed for the reason that they let go of chances at crunch moments.

Elgar and Amla buckle down

The run-chase didn’t start in an auspicious manner for the home team by any stretch of the imagination as Aiden Markram fell prey to Hasan Ali for a two-ball duck. The right-arm speedster trapped Markram plumb in front to strike first blood. In the ninth over, left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a beauty and found Dean Elgar’s outside edge. Azhar Ali took the catch in the slip cordon.

However, the on-field umpires decided to consult the third-umpire and sent the decision upstairs, soft-signalling it as out. Replays showed that the ball didn’t carry to Azhar and hence, Elgar was adjudged not out. Elgar and his partner Hashim Amla played out the remaining overs in the session and shouldered their team to 81/1 at the Lunch break. At that point in time, the Proteas needed 68 runs.

Amla guides South Africa home

Amla and Elgar went on to cobble together a partnership of 119 runs and put South Africa in a commanding position. Amla, who had been straining for form, showed determination and scored a magnificent half-century. Part-time medium pacer Shan Masood nipped out Elgar, who scored 50 patient runs from 123 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. Keeper Sarfraz Ahmed took a sharp catch behind the wickets.

The Proteas lost a couple of wickets thereafter in the form of Theunis de Bruyn and captain du Plessis, but the task had become way too comfortable for the hosts. Even as leg-spinner Yasir Shah accounted for de Bruyn’s dismissal, Afridi nipped out the Proteas skipper. Nevertheless, the experienced Amla notched 63 runs from 148 deliveries, played until the very end and took his team over the finishing line.

Here is how Twitter hailed the Proteas

Well negated hash and dean,great to watch.had their chances did Pakistan. 1 up we go to most beautiful ground in the world.👊

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) December 28, 2018

Played hash👏

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) December 28, 2018

30 wkts in two days,all falling to the fast bowlers in centurion. Very interested to see how this pitch will be rated. Would there have been a much bigger chaos had it been 30 wkts to spin on two days ?#SAvPAK

— Abhinav mukund (@mukundabhinav) December 28, 2018

The last captain to 'bag a pair' in a Test match was AB deVilliers for South Africa v England at Centurion in January 2016 – so the last 3 captaincy pairs have all come on the same ground! #SAvPAK

— Richard V Isaacs (@RVICricketStats) December 28, 2018

#SAvPAK Centurion Test

Sarfaraz Ahmed – 0 & 0
Faf du Plessis – 0 & 0

First time in the history of Test cricket, both captains have bagged Pair in the same Test.

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) December 28, 2018

The on-field signal was out
The batsman started to walk
For the 3rd umpire to overrule the on-field decision there had to be conclusive evidence that the on-field decision was wrong
There was no conclusive evidence that the on-field decision was wrong#SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/PDgiB5SskD

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 28, 2018

Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed in this Test match: 0 and 0
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis in this Test match: 0 and 0#SAvPAK

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 28, 2018

Faf du Plesis & Sarfraz Ahmed – This is the FIRST time in Test Cricket History that Captains from both sides have bagged a PAIR. #SAvPAK

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) December 28, 2018

All said and done, Pakistan could easily have won this, had they batted slightly better. They haven’t been disgraced by any means. I think they will only get better. SA shoukd be happy but Philander will be back next game, so who will they drop? #SAvPAK

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) December 28, 2018

South Africa win by 6 wickets inside 3 days and when I said that before the start of this series, some passionate fans slurred abuses! 😐 #SAvPAK

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) December 28, 2018

Disappointing result specially after having SA under pressure at one point. Anyways it’s just the 1st match,2 more test matches to go & the whole series. Remember it’s a tough tour,there won’t be much to cheer for but whatever little there will be will mean a lot. #SAvPAK

— Kashif 🇵🇰 (@Apassionateguy) December 28, 2018

Thank you #MightyHash for saving us @amlahash 💕 #ProteaFire #SAvPAK

— Shahnawaz Khan (@Shahnawaz2805) December 28, 2018

South Africa vs Pakistan sabse last me match chalu hui thi aur sabse pehle khatam hui 😂😂#SAvPAK

— Mitul (@Eme2ul) December 28, 2018

Probably quite fitting that Bavuma finishes the contest and sends the Proteas 1-0 up heading to Newlands💯👏 #SAvPAK

— Gontse Matea (@Gontse_Matea) December 28, 2018

How quickly Pakistani fans forget past performances.. Here is an example of Shan Masood.. Just one good inning from him (I know he played really well) and they want him to lead the team in test cricket… #SAvPAK

— Moiz (@I_MoizShaikh) December 28, 2018

Some record ducks by Captains in the Centurion Test:

Day 1: Faf du Plessis – South Africa's 1st Test captain with three golden ducks.
Day 2: Sarfraz Ahmed – 3rd keeper-captain to bag a pair in Tests.
Day 3: First ever Test match with both captains bagging pairs.#SAvPAK

— Ravi Singh (@Iam07ravi) December 28, 2018

Faf😂😂 #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/YbGWm6NkfD

— Kirkit Keeda (@kirkitKeeda) December 28, 2018

Major blame for this loss has to be down to the senior batsmen in the team who between them scored:

36
7
0
0
6
0

A total of 49 runs#SAvPAK

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 28, 2018

Shan Masood future captain

— Ghumman (@emclub77) December 27, 2018

Shan masood is better option of captain for pakistan the way he is talking in press conference yesterday he have great cricketing mind #SAvPAK

— Javed shaikh (@Javedsh05920019) December 28, 2018

Shan Masood is also a good option alongwith azhar ali.

— Muhammad Bashir Alam (@bashiralam01) December 28, 2018

By the reference you are giving

Shan Masood will be the better option.

— Hamadullah Sohu (حمادالله سوھو) (@hsohu) December 28, 2018

Shan Masood ko kaptaan bnao….
insha'Allah we'll witness Misbah 2.0#SAvPAK

— Muhammad Usman (@m_usman555) December 28, 2018

Shan Masood is the batsman, bowler and leader Pakistan didn’t know they needed

— Dennis Bumrah (@DennisCricket_) December 28, 2018

Yeah its too early to say but I think Shan Masood is going to be a new test captain and its my wish also.

— Hassan Raza (@HassanR65706541) December 28, 2018

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