Player of the Match
Player of the Match
  • BATSMEN
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    4s
    6s
    SR
    1.4 pitched up, and raps him on the pads right in front! Given out, and Imam has opted to review this. Difficult to see much for him to escape - it pitches on leg and then straightens into him. He falls over in an attempt to flick the ball, and there's considerable distance between bat and pad, and it is hitting too! What a start for South Africa. 1/1
    6.1 THE RECORD IS HIS! Angles this on a good length across the batsman and takes the outside edge. That's wicket number 422 for Dale Steyn, in his 89th Test match, and he is now the highest wicket-taker for South Africa, overtaking Shaun Pollock's mark that has stood for a decade! On cue, the DJ at stadium plays Tina Turner's 'Simply The Best'! 17/2
    15.2 GONE! Shorter ball, and he looks to tuck it away on the on-side, but just drops it back on to his stumps. This is unfortunate, but good for South Africa. Took his pad, then his gloves and then dropped back down off the handle of the bat! 54/3
    28.1 what a catch! Olivier bangs this one in short, and Azhar is forced to open up and skew this up in the air. It was travelling away from the fielder at third slip, and he was at full stretch as he took it inches off the ground! Brilliant! 86/5
    17.5 length ball, that has straightened into him. Given out! Will they review this? They have gone for the review for this. This has pitched outside off, and then straightened into him, and he's not taken a great stride forward when the ball hit him. The only thing that could save him is height, but it looks like it could be gone. There's no edge in this, either. It stays with Umpire's Call, and that means curtains for Shafiq 62/4
    45.3 finally an outside edge goes to hand. Rabada pulled his length back a tad, and a rare bad shot from Babar. The ball was perfectly pitched and moving away, finds the edge and Faf du Plessis clutches it at second slip, tumbling to his left 178/9
    28.5 BOWLED! Four for Olivier! Keeps the length short, and Sarfraz plays a tentative poke from the crease, and gets the inside edge on to his leg stump. Just nicks timber, and now Pakistan have their tail exposed! 86/6
    32.5 FIVE FOR OLIVIER! He pitches this up, and Amir is rooted to the back foot, and his feet go nowhere. It pitches on leg, but the natural angle of the ball slants it across Amir's tentative bat, and clips the top of off stump. Maiden five-wicket haul in Tests for Duanne Olivier, who it must be said has bowled really well! 96/7
    35.5 fuller, and hits him in front. Gone up for the review immediately, as the umpire gave it out initially. Nothing wrong with the front foot, and the line of where it pitched. The only question seems to be if it might have slipped down the leg side. Shah was falling over in trying to play the flick, and in the process got quite close to the stumps. Umpire's call means he is gone here! 111/8
    not out
    21
    28
    51
    2
    1
    75.00
    46.6 and he's got him with a short ball. Another well-directed one, angling across him, but very close to the body. It seems to have clipped his bat on the way to de Kock, there was certainly a noise. He was walking away, but his partner told him to review, given that it's the last wicket. What if it's a no-ball? But it isn't. The review also confirms that there was an edge, with Afridi not able to get his bat out of the way in time. Six wicket for Olivier 181/10
    Extras
    10 (b 7, lb 2, w 1)
    TOTAL
    181 all out (47 Overs, RR: 3.85, 223 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Imam-ul-Haq, 1.4 ov), 2-17 (Fakhar Zaman, 6.1 ov), 3-54 (Shan Masood, 15.2 ov), 4-62 (Asad Shafiq, 17.5 ov), 5-86 (Azhar Ali, 28.1 ov), 6-86 (Sarfaraz Ahmed, 28.5 ov), 7-96 (Mohammad Amir, 32.5 ov), 8-111 (Yasir Shah, 35.5 ov), 9-178 (Babar Azam, 45.3 ov), 10-181 (Shaheen Shah Afridi, 46.6 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    DW Steyn1316615.0700
    K Rabada1745933.4710
    D Olivier1433762.6400
    KA Maharaj311003.3300
  • BATSMEN
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    5.6 length ball, cuts back and hits him in front. Markram wondering if this should be referred. They decide against it! Great ball, and good breakthrough! Nothing wrong with the footing, pitched just outside off, but the movement back in caught him moving forward and got him below the knee-roll. Great bowling, and an important breakthrough. 19/1
    14.5 the channel gets another wicket and it's a big one. He kept it in that area, Elgar had managed to pull his hands away from one, isn't so quick this time. Back of a length and in the perfect channel, Elgar shapes to prod, then tries to pull away, but the ball takes a thick edge and goes straight to first slip for a dolly. Pakistan right in it 43/3
    13.2 got him! Amla had no clue about that one, it flies off the outside edge and Babar Azam at gully holds a sharp chance chest high to his left. Pitched on a length and the over-the-wicket angle was taking it across, Amla tried to flick limply, and it caught the leading edge and flew at pace to gully. The questions about Amla's declining form continue 43/2
    32.5 GONE! There's the breakthrough! Length ball, but the natural angle across the batsman takes the outside edge as de Bruyn looks to defend from the crease, and Sarfraz makes no mistake. This is the wicket they would have wanted to seize some advantage going into what could be the final minutes of the day. 112/5
    14.6 got him first ball and South Africa are crumbling pitched on leg stump, and reared up rather more than Faf was budgeting for from a length. He wanted to tickle it round the corner, it instead flew off the shoulder of the bat to gully. That is a huge wicket. Pakistan will believe they are on top now 43/4
    47.6 GONE! What a ripper! Pitches on off and then takes off from a good length. Draws Bavuma into a forward press, and just takes the outside edge. Beautiful bowling, and the end of a gem of a knock. Very timely wicket for Pakistan too! 170/7
    40.1 GONE! Length ball, on middle stump, and he looks to smash it down the wicket, but doesn't get behind the line at all. Takes the lower part of the bat, and goes through to a grateful Sarfraz! 146/6
    59.6 got him with a slower ball clever bowling. It's not something you expect perhaps in Tests, but Amir knew de Kock was looking to tap and run. Bowled it at 116kph, and de Kock was too early into his shot, only spooning a catch to cover 223/10
    52.3 big shout, not given and Sarfraz reviews it immediately. That looked mighty close. Pitched on a length and went on to hit him on the pads. Maharaj's forward prod was completely down the wrong line. Perhaps he thought it would straighten like the last one, but this went with the angle. No bat involved. Three reds on Hawkeye! And Maharaj will have to go. Pakistan strike just after South Africa have taken the lead, and this Test is still balanced. 189/8
    58.3 finally the ball catches Rabada's outside edge Another one on a good length, inviting him to drive and straightening. Rabada went for the drive but got an outside edge that was snaffled by second slip. It's been a good hand by Rabada though, and he's given his team a useful lead 220/9
    not out
    0
    3
    8
    0
    0
    0.00
    Extras
    8 (lb 3, nb 3, w 2)
    TOTAL
    223 all out (60 Overs, RR: 3.71, 284 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Aiden Markram, 5.6 ov), 2-43 (Hashim Amla, 13.2 ov), 3-43 (Dean Elgar, 14.5 ov), 4-43 (Faf du Plessis, 14.6 ov), 5-112 (Theunis de Bruyn, 32.5 ov), 6-146 (Dale Steyn, 40.1 ov), 7-170 (Temba Bavuma, 47.6 ov), 8-189 (Keshav Maharaj, 52.3 ov), 9-220 (Kagiso Rabada, 58.3 ov), 10-223 (Quinton de Kock, 59.6 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    Mohammad Amir2066243.1003
    Hasan Ali1847023.8810
    Shaheen Shah Afridi1816443.5500
    Yasir Shah402406.0000
  • BATSMEN
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    SR
    57
    96
    126
    8
    1
    59.37
    28.5 CHOPPED ON! This is fast becoming eligible to be called Olivier's Test...and one that Pakistan just can't ace! Length ball that came back into him off the seam, and Imam was looking to defend off the back foot. Took the inside of the bat and went on to the stumps. He has to drag himself off the pitch! 101/2
    12.6 GONE! What a lapse of concentration from Zaman! It's a full ball down the leg side, and he looks to flick it, but cannot keep it down, and it carries down Kagiso Rabada's throat at long leg. The breakthrough comes through, and it's Olivier's seventh wicket for the match! 44/1
    54.2 AND ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! The short ball works for Steyn, as Masood takes on the man at midwicket, one of the five boundary-riders, three of them on the onside. It goes straight to him, and that will probably hasten the end of this innings now. 185/9
    30.2 short ball does the trick again back of a length and rising, he shaped to pull it but it probably rose higher than he thought. It also homed into him and got very close to his body. He would have been better off swaying out of the way or rising up on his toes to defend. Instead he gets into a tangle with the pull, the ball takes the top edge and Rabada runs in to complete a tumbling catch at short midwicket 103/3
    38.6 you cannot deny Steyn for too long Another bad shot, but Steyn deserves that wicket. He brought the last ball back into him, he bowled this one outside off and it was moving away. Shafiq's feet were rooted to the crease and he tried to slash that away from the body. Gets an edge that is gleefully snaffled by Quinton. It was a bad shot in any case. Given that he had just survived an lbw appeal and Pakistan's position, it was a terrible shot 134/4
    44.6 cleaned him up What a beauty of a ball, from a bowler who is going to rule world cricket for a while. No second innings heroics from Babar Azam. Pitched on a length and moved away, all at great pace, leaving the batsman stuck in his crease. Beaten by pace as much as movement, by the time he had completed his intended push towards cover, the stumps were in disarray. Take a bow Rabada, that is a crucial, crucial strike 142/5
    46.2 GONE AGAIN! That is irresponsible from Sarfraz, who goes for a blob! A teasing ball outside off, and he gets led into chasing it, edging it down to Faf du Plessis, diving away to his left. That's a pair for the captain! 142/6
    48.6 THROUGH HIM! Length ball, on the stumps, and keeps low too! Amir didn't get behind the line of this, and ended up playing a tentative poke at it. This Rabada spell is threatening to hasten the end of this game, and at this moment, there's only one team winning this one! 158/7
    49.2 dug in short, and he edges it through to de Kock. TEN IN THE MATCH FOR OLIVIER! Olivier's twist has completely turned this match around, in both innings. Bowled so well on day one, and today he came on and undid all the good work that the Pakistan openers had done. 159/8
    not out
    11
    13
    41
    2
    0
    84.61
    55.6 OLIVIER GETS ELEVEN FOR THE MATCH! It was dug in short, but Afridi looked like he had done enough to ride the bounce, and was looking to just nurdle it towards long leg. Just popped up towards short leg, and Markram takes an exceptional catch to his left. Duanne Olivier has 5 for 59 to go with the 6 for 37 in the first innings. It's also stumps for today! South Africa will start tomorrow requiring 149 to take a 1-0 lead in this three-Test series 190/10
    Extras
    17 (b 6, lb 10, w 1)
    TOTAL
    190 all out (56 Overs, RR: 3.39, 265 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Fakhar Zaman, 12.6 ov), 2-101 (Imam-ul-Haq, 28.5 ov), 3-103 (Azhar Ali, 30.2 ov), 4-134 (Asad Shafiq, 38.6 ov), 5-142 (Babar Azam, 44.6 ov), 6-142 (Sarfaraz Ahmed, 46.2 ov), 7-158 (Mohammad Amir, 48.6 ov), 8-159 (Yasir Shah, 49.2 ov), 9-185 (Shan Masood, 54.2 ov), 10-190 (Shaheen Shah Afridi, 55.6 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    DW Steyn1543422.2600
    K Rabada1544733.1300
    D Olivier1535953.9310
    KA Maharaj1123403.0900
  • BATSMEN
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    41.3 GONE THIS TIME! Length ball, that angles across him, and his bat gets to the ball but feet don't follow. The ball rises on its way to Sarfraz, who takes a solid catch away to his left. It's a maiden Test wicket for Shan Masood as well! 119/2
    1.2 jags back from a length, and it's GOT HIM! Pitched outside off, and then moved in sharply, and Markram was caught in the crease. The ball also kept a bit lower than normal, but credit to Hasan for getting it absolutely right with just his second ball! GAME ON, as the South African opener opts not to review this! 0/1
    not out
    63
    148
    224
    11
    0
    42.56
    46.1 GONE THIS TIME! Yasir strikes at last, as de Bruyn pre-meditates an inside-out shot by advancing down the track. Yasir lobs it wider, it's the top-spinner, and he misses it all ends up. Easy for Sarfraz, and that ends a tidy little cameo from de Bruyn 136/3
    47.2 short ball, and he has swung it straight down the throat of long leg! TWO PAIRS FOR TWO CAPTAINS! Just reward for Afridi, who will feel he probably should have struck with the Elgar catch to Azhar Ali that the TV umpire overruled. Too little, too late, though for Pakistan 137/4
    not out
    13
    10
    12
    2
    0
    130.00
    Extras
    15 (b 4, lb 5, w 6)
    TOTAL
    151/4 (50.4 Overs, RR: 2.98, 230 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Aiden Markram, 1.2 ov), 2-119 (Dean Elgar, 41.3 ov), 3-136 (Theunis de Bruyn, 46.1 ov), 4-137 (Faf du Plessis, 47.2 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    Mohammad Amir1252402.0000
    Hasan Ali1363913.0000
    Shaheen Shah Afridi1515313.5320
    Yasir Shah7.412012.6000
    Shan Masood31612.0000

Close of Play

  • Wed, 26 Dec - day 1 - South Africa 1st innings 127/5 (T Bavuma 38*, DW Steyn 13*, 36 ov)
  • Thu, 27 Dec - day 2 - Pakistan 2nd innings 190
  • Fri, 28 Dec - day 3 - South Africa 2nd innings 151/4 (50.4 ov) - end of match

Match Notes

South Africa 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st0D ElgarAK Markram
2nd119HM AmlaD Elgar
3rd17HM AmlaTB de Bruyn
4th1HM AmlaF du Plessis
5th14HM AmlaT Bavuma