All smiles
AIDEN SCORES BIG: BUT DE VILLIERS DISAPPOINTS Wickets galore as batting under lights proves to be a real nightmare.
Aiden Markram scored a second century in his third test on the first day of the one-off day-night test against Zimbabwe at St George’s Park yesterday.
But AB de Villiers’ return to the test arena after an almost twoyear hiatus ended in disappointment when he was caught and bowled for 53 just as he started accelerating and promised another characteristically flamboyant innings.
Markram scored 125 before being caught behind by wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor off Kyle Jarvis just before the dinner break, leaving Temba Bavuma not out on 35 after the first two sessions of the first ever four-day test.
Christopher Mpofu snared De Villiers with an athletic catch after earlier taking the equally prized wicket of Hashim Amla for five.
While only four wickets fell in the first two sessions with South Africa going to dinner on 251/4, it was a completely different ball game when the lights came on after the break.
In the last two hour session it was all about the bowlers, with South Africa being reduced to 309/9 before the Zimbabwe top-order was obliterated, leaving them struggling on 30/4.
Markram, who made a promising debut against Bangladesh in September, reached his century off 175 balls.
De Villiers, who had not played a test since early 2016 as he concentrated on limited-overs cricket, quickly reached his half century off 62 balls.
It was his 40th test fifty but he was out three deliveries later as Mpofu took a fine catch after De Villiers checked his shot and hit the ball straight back to the bowler.
De Villiers stepped in as captain when Faf du Plessis pulled out through illness.
Du Plessis promptly won the toss and elected to bat.
The Proteas will be looking to improve on their batting before the three home tests against topranked India next month. –