JOHANNESBURG - Wiaan Mulder will have to dig into his wallet to buy his teammates a round after correctly forecasting the fall of a wicket off the first ball of the West Indies innings.
First revealed on television by commentator Mike Haysman during Saturday’s play, the Proteas have kept themselves engaged while in the field by shouting ‘keg ball’ before a delivery and if a wicket falls, the person who uttered those words, has to buy the rest of the team a round of drinks.
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“I called one the first ball,” Mulder chuckled after Saturday’s play. Kagiso Rabada, then had West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite caught off the glove down the legside.
It wasn’t even initially given on the field and it was only after South Africa referred the decision to the television official, that it was revealed a wicket had fallen. “It’s an expensive ball,” Mulder revealed, adding that a few of his teammates had correctly called wickets in the series, and thus had to fork out for drinks.
“Your instinct tells you, there’ll be a wicket so you call a ‘keg ball. It’s to create a bit of ‘gees,’ amongst the players,’ said Mulder.
South Africa dominated the second day, bowling the West Indies out for 149, leaving the tourists with a 149 run lead, which they will look to build on on Sunday.
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Mulder mopped up the West Indies tail, claiming 3/1 in four overs, although even he knew it was the work of fast bowlers ahead of him that mentally deflated the West Indies. Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada each took two wickets, while Anrich Nortje claimed one as the West Indies succumbed to the furious intensity they created.
“I’ve been struggling with my rhythm the whole tour, and I was just trying to land the ball in the right area and that whatever happens happens. The fast bowlers were a bit tired, so it was a bit of a gamble to put me on.”
It was one that worked, with Mulder finding the right lines and lengths producing two excellent deliveries that found the outside edge, while the third of his wickets was burgled down the legside.
Mulder was grateful for his contribution with the ball as it helped to alleviate his annoyance at not contributing more with the bat. He had a chance on Saturday to play a long innings and while he faced 39 balls, he scored just eight, and got an excellent delivery from Kemar Roach that ended his stay at the crease.
“It is frustrating at the moment,” Mulder remarked. “I feel like I’m doing the right things and I’m training really hard. I’m spending a lot of time at the crease, but I’m not getting many bad balls. I just feel that on this wicket every now and then there’s a ball that’s got your number.
⛔️ DAY 2 | STUMPS
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 19, 2021
The #Proteas bagged all 10 @windiescricket wickets in 2 sessions to end the day with a 149-run lead after dismissing the hosts for 149. Wiaan Mulder bagged 3 wickets while Rabada, Ngidi and Maharaj grabbed 2 each.#WIvSA #ThatsOurGame pic.twitter.com/fzKP17w0qo
“Unfortunately, I’m not getting the runs at the moment. I had a long chat with Aiden (Markram), I was a bit ‘moedeloos’ (despondent), and he said ‘you’re doing the right things, just keep going at some stage, your luck will change.’
“The nice thing about being an all-rounder came at the end of the day. Hopefully I can keep pushing on and get some runs in the second innings.”