Skipper leads SA run fest

South Africa are ideally placed after two days of the second Test against New Zealand at Centurion, having posted 481 for eight declared and then reducing the tourists to 38 for three at stumps yesterday.

Captain Faf du Plessis (below) was the driving force behind South Africa’s imposing total on a pitch that gave plenty of encouragement to the bowlers, scoring an unbeaten century that ensured they rammed home the advantage of one of the most solid top-order displays they have ever enjoyed.

It was only the second time in their Test history that the top five batsmen have all passed 50, the other occasion being the 2010 Test against India at the same venue.

The skipper was understandably delighted after close of play.

“The batsmen up front did very well on the first day to be so patient and 481 was a very good result for us. We thought 400 would be a really good score on that pitch and we managed to go a bit higher and then have a dip at New Zealand at the end of the day,” Du Plessis said.

Du Plessis, with 112 not out, JP Duminy with 88 and Quinton de Kock, who moved up the order to open in place of the injured Dean Elgar and set the tone with an assured 82, were the main success stories for the Proteas.

Runs for Du Plessis and Duminy were especially welcome as both have been below their best in recent months in the Test arena.

“JP is hugely talented and we just wanted to give him confidence and back him by batting him at four and it came off very well. You can see he’s in good touch and he’s being more positive, that’s what he’s changed, which has led to a better mnindset. Hopefully it’s the beginning of a new era for him.

“For my myself, I’m just happy to prove to my critics that I still belong. Whether I’m captain or not I need to score runs,” captain Du Plessis said.