Quinton saves the day for South Africa
Quinton de Kock hit an aggressive 95 to lead a South African fightback on the first day of the first Test against England at SuperSport Park on Thursday. South Africa was 277 for nine at close after recovering from 111 for five after being sent in.
By : migrator
Update: 2019-12-26 20:19 GMT
Centurion
Quinton (95, 128 balls, 14x4) and new cap Dwaine Pretorius (33) put on 87 runs for the sixth wicket. Quinton got out to Sam Curran edging a catch to keeper Jos Buttler in the extended post-tea session.
England was dominant when De Kock walked out at 97 for four, but the left-hander broke a spell of four successive maiden overs, which had included a wicket, when he took 14 runs off an over from Sam Curran, including three fours.
Skipper Faf du Plessis was caught at first slip off Stuart Broad in the next over but De Kock continued to attack, reaching his half-century off 45 balls with nine fours.
Although England captain Joe Root said he wanted to take advantage of “live grass” on the pitch, having opted for an all-seam bowling attack, loose strokes contributed to the wickets of both South African opening batsmen.
James Anderson, who became the first specialist bowler to appear in 150 Tests, took a wicket with the first ball of the match, a loosener down the leg side which Dean Elgar glanced to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Aiden Markram clipped a ball from the left-armed Curran to midwicket for another soft dismissal.
Brief scores: South Africa 277/9 in 82.4 overs (Q de Kock 95, Z Hamza 39, D Pretorius 33, S Curran 4/57, S Broad 3/52)
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