Twitter Reactions: South Africa complete Pakistan-heist at the Newlands

The third Test in Johannesburg is nothing, but a dead rubber.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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4 Min Read

Dale Steyn
info
Dale Steyn of South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The likes of Shan Masood, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam scored half-centuries that ensured that South Africa were made to work hard on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan at the renowned Newlands in Cape Town. The visitors brushed off the trail of 254 runs and set the home team a modest target of 41 to win the match and the series 2-0, which Faf du Plessis and Co did by nine wickets.

Abbas removes de Bruyn

The Proteas didn’t take the field yesterday in order to end the match. Rather, they came back on the fifth day to complete the formalities. Theunis de Bruyn replaced right-handed Aiden Markram, who scored a half-century in the first innings, as the opener and he came to bat along with Dean Elgar. But he couldn’t make much of an impact and perished to Mohammad Abbas after scoring four from 10 balls.

The pacer churned out a well-directed bouncer and de Bruyn tried to churn out the hook shot. But he couldn’t get hold of the ball and was clearly late on the stroke. The leather took the edge of the bat and traced to keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who didn’t make any mistake whatsoever while taking the catch. However, the wicket wasn’t expected to set the cat amongst the pigeons in the home team’s camp.

Elgar guides his team home

A couple of overs later, Hashim Amla had to retire hurt after scoring a couple in five deliveries. Left-arm seamer Mohammad Amir hurled in a vicious bouncer that hit Amla on the elbow. He winced in pain even as the physiotherapist treated him. Skipper Faf du Plessis came out thereafter. At the other end, left-handed Elgar didn’t look flustered by any means and looked determined to see his team through.

He eventually scored 20 runs from 38 balls with four boundaries and remained not out. He smacked part-time bowler Azhar Ali for two boundaries to take South Africa to an unassailable lead. Immediately after he hit the winning shot, a delighted du Plessis hugged him. The third Test at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg is nothing, but a dead rubber and it would be played from Friday, January 11.

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