Elgar’s century rescues Proteas after early setbacks against NZ
An unbeaten hundred from Dean Elgar rescued South Africa from a grim start to take the honours on Day One of the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday.
It was the opener’s seventh Test century, and one of the most important, in a patient innings after South Africa were in early trouble at 22 for three in Dunedin. By stumps they were 229 for four with Elgar on 128, and Temba Bavuma on 38.
Elgar set the tone for the revival with a 126-run stand for the fourth wicket with captain Faf du Plessis and followed with an unbroken 81 for the fifth wicket with Bavuma.
Although the pitch offered little support for the bowlers, for the batsmen it was a constant struggle to score with 30 maidens among the 90 overs bowled.
Elgar left when he could, blocked when he needed to, and punished anything loose with 20 boundaries in his century.
LATE WICKETS GIVE SL EDGE OVER B’DESH
Bangladesh’s Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal shared a century opening stand before Sri Lanka took two late wickets to tighten their grip on the first Test at Galle on Wednesday.
The visitors were 133-2 at stumps on the second day and trailing by 361, after Kusal Mendis (194), Niroshan Dickwella (75) and Dilruwan Perera (51) had swelled the hosts’ total to 494.
INDIA TO FACE ENGLAND IN WOMEN’S WC OPENER
The Indian women’s cricket team will begin their World Cup campaign by taking on hosts England in the opener on June 24 in Derby while powerhouse New Zealand will take on qualifier Sri Lanka in Bristol on the same day. India will feature in four games in Derby, including the much-anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on July 2.
Reigning champion Australia will begin its title defence against West Indies at Taunton on June 26, said the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a release.