Dean Elgar becomes the first South African to be dismissed on 199 in Tests

After Aiden Markram got run out on 97 on his Test debut on the first day, it was the turn of his opening partner Dean Elgar to record a similar instance on the following day. The left-hander was dismissed on 199 thus he joined an elite list of players who have a score of 199 in Test cricket. Elgar is now one of the 12 players to record a score of 199 in the longer format and the first one to do so from South Africa.

In the pursuit of his maiden Test double century pulled across a short delivery from Mustafizur Rahman which lobbed into the hands of Mominul Haque the fielder at the mid-wicket. Thus, the South African became the 10th player to be dismissed on 199 in Test cricket. Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara are the two players who remained unbeaten on 199 in this format.

Andy Flower recorded 199* against South Africa in 2001 during the following-on innings where his team was bowled out leaving their keeper-batsman stranded one short of a memorable double ton. Sangakkara had a similar situation in 2012 at home against Pakistan where he tried to retain strike in the next over and get to his double but failed in executing both.

The first of the ten players to be dismissed on 199 was Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar back in 1984 while the last one was India’s KL Rahul who got out one short of his maiden double during at Test at home against England. Rahul, who also opened the innings like Elgar, missed his double ton due to a poor stroke.

Players who scored ‘199’ in Test cricket:

Elgar also became only the 3rd South African to be dismissed in 190s in Test cricket after Herschelle Gibbs and Hashim Amla. Gibbs had two scores in the 190s while Amla in 2012 against Australia at Perth was the last to be dismissed in the 190s. No player from South Africa remained unbeaten in 190s in Tests.

South Africans to be dismissed in 190s in Test cricket:

(Stats as on September 29, 2017)