Starc the difference for Aussies, says Du Plessis
durban — Mitchell Starc’s ability to blow away South Africa’s tail was the crucial difference between the teams, South African captain Faf du Plessis said after Australia wrapped up a 118-run win on the fifth day of the first Test on Monday.
It took Australia 18 minutes and 22 balls to claim the last South African wicket when Quinton de Kock swung across the line and was leg before wicket to Josh Hazlewood for 83. South Africa were bowled out for 298, adding five runs to their overnight total of 293 for nine as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
The result is however likely to be overshadowed by an unseemly row between Australia’s tempestuous David Warner and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock as the players returned to the clubhouse for tea. From the fall of the sixth wicket in the four innings, Australia added a total of 166 runs while South Africa scored only 27 runs from the same stage.
“There was a real difference in skill with the reverse swing,” said Du Plessis, who said Starc and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada were the two stand-outs. “One bowler in each team has the potential to do that to the tail. We’ve got to find ways to eliminate their tail a lot quicker. As I said before the series, it’s going to be a real crucial part, the amount of runs scored between eight and eleven.”
Man-of-the-match Starc had match figures of nine for 109, with six of his victims being lower order batsmen. Du Plessis acknowledged that it was difficult for his tailenders. —