Bad memories jolt Proteas
CENTURY-maker Dean Elgar insists the pitch in Cape Town is no batsman’s paradise, while AB de Villiers says it reminds him of the surface at the same venue on which pure chaos unfolded in 2011.
South Africa resumed at 8-266 on day two of the third Test last night, having crumbled from 2-220 in the first innings.
Kagiso Rabada frustrated Australia yet again, fighting back with the bat to help South Africa post a first-innings total of 311.
Elgar carried his bat for the third time at Test level, weathering blows to the helmet and arm in an impressive knock of 141 not out that spanned more than seven hours.
Rabada’s hour-long knock of 22 ended when Nathan Lyon delivered his first ball of the day, with Steve Smith gleefully accepting his fourth slips catch of the game.
Australia rolled the Proteas for 96 at Newlands in 2011, claiming a first-innings lead of 188 runs, then watched in disbelief as they were skittled for 47. It remains Australia’s lowest Test total since 1902.
“That funny Test. I’m not saying it’s going to be wickets galore in the next couple of innings, but it played similar to that first innings,” de Villiers said.