A test for the Proteas

South Africa's Quinton de Kock celebrates his century on Day 2 of the 4th Test against England at Centurion. Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko

South Africa's Quinton de Kock celebrates his century on Day 2 of the 4th Test against England at Centurion. Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko

Published Jan 24, 2016

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Johannesburg – The Proteas face an examination of their patience and confidence as they go in search of their first Test win in over a year in the next couple of days.

It’s been a long time since South Africa ended the second day of a Test so well in front of the opposition and the danger is that the players may have forgotten how to win.

Nine Tests have come and gone since South Africa last tasted victory – against the West Indies in the “New Year’s Test” at Newlands 12 months ago – and in that period they have also suffered five defeats.

In their favour is the fact that they scored a sizable first innings total thanks to three centuries. Also, the pitch is starting to produce inconsistent bounce – as Nick Compton can attest.

In South Africa’s way stands England, who, while a lot less intense here than in the previous three matches in the series, won’t want to give away the last game. That much is evident from the manner in which their skipper, Alastair Cook, batted yesterday evening. It was a return to the resilient and unfussy batting that has been his forte. At stumps he was on 68, having shown accurate shot-making and solid defence, along with a bit of luck England will need to survive on this surface.

There have been two 50 partnerships as well – 56 with Compton for the second wicket, before he got one from Rabada that shot through low to trap him lbw, and an unbeaten 60 with Joe Root, who appears to have maintained the form that brought him that sublime century at the Wanderers last week.

South Africa’s bowling was good, particularly from Kyle Abbott and off-spinner Dane Piedt, and if the rest can find some consistency, they will put England under pressure.

The first half of the day belonged to Quinton de Kock, who made a maiden Test ton. It was a sparkling performance that did have its fair share of luck, but there was also lots of eye-catching stroke-play.

It was by no means a century gifted to him by a weary attack, either. De Kock survived a late-evening assault on the opening day against the second new ball and yesterday morning, with that ball still only 10 overs old, got through a tricky first 30 minutes, where he lost his overnight partner, Temba Bavuma, and Kagiso Rabada.

However, he never let his intensity slip and when the ball came anywhere near his range, it was dispatched disdainfully to the boundary. This was the De Kock so many people had hoped to see. While there’ve been some Smart Alecs around now claiming the selectors were wrong to drop him in Bangladesh last year, that axing was what he needed. It allowed him some time out of the spotlight to regain his focus and polish his technique.

The results were in evidence in India in the one-day series there last October when De Kock made two hundreds, which he followed with a starring role in the Titans’ charge to the RamSlam T20 title.

He was dropped twice yesterday – on 28 by Ben Stokes in the gully and Alastair Cook in the covers when he had 90 – and he also survived when Jonny Bairstow made no attempt to move towards the ball as it flew between him and his skipper standing at slip, when De Kock was on 80.

Nevertheless, the ton was deserved for the manner of the attacking play. He needed just 104 balls to achieve the landmark, having raced from 50 to 100 in 36 balls.

Along the way there were two key partnerships; the first for the eighth wicket with Kyle Abbott was worth 50 runs, and there was also a ninth wicket stand of 82 with Dane Piedt which both frustrated and exhausted England’s bowlers. The best of them was Ben Stokes, who looks like becoming their most important player over the next decade and finished with 4/86 from 27 overs.

– THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

 

SuperSport Park:

4th Test, day 2 of 5:

South Africa 475

England 138/2 (trail by 337)

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