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Wednesday, Jun 26th
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Test Cricket
Hashim Amla has played many bigger and longer innings for the Proteas but for skill, adaptability and by no means least sheer courage his latest effort was right up there with the best.
He finished on 61 off 121 balls with 7 four but, if you consider that the other five specialist batsmen in the South African top order made 27 runs between them, you would have been left wondering where the home side would have been without him.
The Proteas achieved their first objective of bowling India out cheaply on day one of the 3rd Sunfoil Freedom Test match at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium but they well have reached the close reflecting that they could have done even better.
On a day of struggle for the batsmen India were bowled out for 187 in 77 overs to which the Proteas replied with 6 runs for the loss of Aiden Markram’s wicket in a tricky 6 overs before the close.
Proteas opening batsman, Aiden Markram, has been passed fit for selection for the third Sunfoil Test match against India starting at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday. Markram injured his left quadricep during the 135-run win in the second match at Centurion, and was unable to field during India’s second innings.
The return of the opener brings welcome stability to the top of the order, as the selectors are once again faced with a selection conundrum for the Wanderers green-top. Captain, Faf du Plessis, says they will be keeping their ‘options open’ – including the possibility of an all-pace attack – as the Proteas look to seal a 3-0 series victory.
The Proteas are aiming for nothing less than a series whitewash ahead of the third Sunfoil Freedom Test match against India starting at the Bidvest Wanderers stadium on Wednesday. Proteas bowler, Vernon Philander, insists that the match is not a ‘dead-rubber’, but rather an opportunity to strengthen their dominance over the visitors with one eye on the ICC Test rankings.
A 3-0 series win will take the Proteas level with India at the top of the ICC Test rankings – India will remain first by a decimal point- with the four-match series against Australia in March providing an opportunity for the team to topple India by the April 3rd cut-off date.
Lungi Ngidi took six wickets in an innings and four of the last seven on the final day to lead the Standard Bank Proteas to victory over India by 135 runs in the second Sunfoil Freedom Test match at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.
This victory also enabled the Proteas to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series with only the final match left to be played at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium from next Wednesday.
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