• Olivier rampages through Pakistan … again!

    Published on | Leave a response

    Another day and another Turbo Bowler award for Duanne Olivier following his demolition of the Pakistan batting order once again, picking up 4-48 on day one of the second Test at Newlands.

    Olivier picked up where he left off in the first Test in Centurion, the Knights bowler coming out all guns blazing as he banged the ball into the turf, bringing back seemingly reoccurring nightmares for the Pakistani batsmen.

    Azhar Ali was the first of his four wickets on the day. Olivier picked up the right-hander’s wicket for the third time in a row with an excellent short ball caught at slip.

    The initial breakthrough opened the floodgates for Olivier as he finished the day with the wickets of captain Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam and Yasir Shah in his pocket – extending his lead as the highest wicket-taker in the series with 15 wickets so far.

    There was plenty of doubt whether Olivier would be playing in Newlands once veteran pacer Vernon Philander was ruled fit for the second Test, but his match figures of 11-96 in Centurion had many fans and the media alike calling for his inclusion.

    Olivier certainly answered the call with another emphatic display with the ball – justifying his inclusion at the expense of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj as the Proteas fielded an all-out pace attack.

    READ ALSO: Olivier’s 11 scalps sets SA 149 target

    Olivier’s strike rate of 27.1 balls per wicket is among the lowest in Test cricket history, and while the records only qualify after 2000 balls bowled, the Proteas fast bowler is well on his way to being another key component in the destructive South African bowling attack.

    Scorecard

    Photo: ICC/Twitter

    Post by

    Anitha Madikizela