VIDEO: Devon Malcolm’s 9/57 against SA

Devon Malcolm bowled with tremendous pace. Photo: Reuters

Devon Malcolm bowled with tremendous pace. Photo: Reuters

Published Jul 26, 2017

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CAPE TOWN – It was August 20, 1994 at The Oval in London, and Devon Malcolm was at the crease.

England were trying to get close to South Africa’s first-innings score of 332, and Fanie de Villiers had the ball in his hands.

Instead of trying to bamboozle tail-ender Malcolm with one of his famous swinging deliveries, De Villiers thought he’d rather give the big England fast bowler some “chin music” – apparently in revenge for Malcolm having bounced Jonty Rhodes.

De Villiers found his target, and it was so accurate that the England badge fell off Malcolm’s helmet!

But, it was also a big mistake…

The angry bear in Malcolm awoke, and he charged in to produce one of the most thunderous spells of quick bowling ever seen.

He told The Independent in London this week about being struck by the bouncer: “I’m pretty easy going. But even when Allan Donald, who’s a good mate of mine, came up and asked me if I was okay, I swore at him and told him where to get off.”

Before they knew it, the visitors were 1/3 as Gary and then Peter Kirsten, as well as captain Hansie Cronjé, were all gone within a few minutes.

The Jamaican-born Malcolm continued to scare the living daylights out of the South Africans, finishing with the incredible figures of 9/57 to set up an eight-wicket victory for England.

 

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“The first ball went exactly where I wanted it to go and it was quick – seriously quick,” Malcolm told The Independent.

“I think Allan Donald had conveyed to his teammates how pissed off I was. I think the South Africans knew they were in the s**t. I didn’t hesitate to deliver from ball one.

“If you look at the footage, a couple of balls before I got Kepler Wessels and Cronjé out, I came round the wicket and got a delivery right near their throats.

“It was sheer hostility. I worked every one of them over – they just couldn’t handle the pace, if I’m honest.”

Let’s hope that there won’t be another “Devon Malcolm moment” for the Proteas on Thursday, when they start the third Test against England at The Oval, with the series all square at 1-1 with two games to go.

@ashfakmohamed

IOL Sport

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