De Kock in fighting mood
DE KOCK: LEFT-HANDER GIVES SA A FIGHTING CHANCE
Proteas batsman Quinton de Kock held the South African innings together with a solid 95 on the opening day of the first Test against England in Centurion yesterday.
Curran England’s star man as tourists make life difficult.
There were times during the first day of the first Test against England that South Africa’s batting looked on the verge of total collapse but, led by the ever-plucky Quinton de Kock, the Proteas managed to cobble together a satisfactory 277/9 at Centurion yesterday.
Sent in to bat, South Africa lost a wicket to the first ball of the day, were soon 32/2 and then 111/5, but De Kock rode his luck with a determined 95 off just 128 deliveries, stroking 14 fours.
The left-hander shared two vital partnerships as debutant Dwaine Pretorius held up England for nearly an hour-and-a-half in scoring 33 and putting on 87 for the sixth wicket with De Kock.
Vernon Philander then helped De Kock add 47 for the seventh wicket before the wicketkeeper/ batsman was eventually caught behind off Sam Curran (19-5-57-4).
Philander did a stout job as he batted through to stumps, scoring 28 not out, with Anrich Nortje set to join him today. Kagiso Rabada (12) was bowled by the impressive Stuart Broad (17.4-4-52-3) off the last ball of an intriguing first day.
“It’s not a bad score and if we can get to 300 then that will be challenging,” De Kock said.
After all the problems for both teams in the build-up to the series, the match started on a sour note for both a photographer and then Proteas opener Dean Elgar. Just as Jimmy Anderson was about to run in and bowl the first ball from the West Lane End, the photographer slipped on the covers and wrenched his knee in front of the sightscreen, delaying the start until he could be stretchered away.
Anderson, who became the first specialist fast bowler to play 150 Tests, then bowled a wretched belated first delivery, short and down the leg side, but Elgar could only edge his attempted legglance to the wicketkeeper.
Aiden Markram sprinkled his 23-ball innings of 20 with some glorious boundaries but also some loose strokes, clipping Curran’s fourth ball low to midwicket.
Zubayr Hamza (39) looked extremely solid, leading the assault on Jofra Archer (19-4-65-1) before he was caught in the slips off Broad.
Captain Faf du Plessis spent two hours over his 29 before Broad had him caught in the slips.
Curran then dismissed both debutant Rassie van der Dussen (6) and De Kock.