• SA vs Eng: Talking points (Day 3)

    Jon Cardinelli reflects on the players and moments that shaped day three of the third Test at the Wanderers.

    BATSMAN OF THE DAY
    Jonny Bairstow continues to enjoy success against the Proteas. The wicketkeeper-batsman played some good shots in the morning session, and unfortunately ran out of partners towards the end of England’s first innings.

    BOWLER OF THE DAY
    Kagiso Rabada deserves a mention for his 5-78 performance, but Stuart Broad’s fiery spell after lunch swung the momentum back in England’s favour. Broad bowled with intensity and accuracy during that period. He finished with figures of 6-17.

    SHOT OF THE DAY
    Early in the day, Moeen Ali latched on to a short and wide delivery by Hardus Viljoen, and smashed it behind point for four.

    DELIVERY OF THE DAY
    Ben Stokes played second fiddle to Stuart Broad for much of the second innings, but the ball that got Chris Morris was a peach. The delivery was full and swung back into the right-handed batsman. Morris missed it and was bowled.

    CATCH OF THE DAY
    James Taylor took two sharp chances at short leg. The low catch that sent Hashim Amla packing was the better of the two.

    BATTING WOES RUN DEEP
    Dean Elgar top-scored in South Africa’s first innings with 46. Kagiso Rabada was the highest scorer in the second dig with 16.

    DIFFICULT DEBUT
    Hardus Viljoen may not forget his first delivery in Test cricket, a ball that proved the undoing of England captain Alastair Cook. His performance as a whole, however, left a lot to be desired. Viljoen finished with first-innings figures of 1-79 in 15 overs, and an economy rate of 5.26.

    BAT BREAKER
    In the 62nd over of England’s first innings, South Africa and Hardus Viljoen had something to smile about. Viljoen speared a delivery into Moeen Ali from around the wicket, and the batsman looked to play the ball to the onside. When Ali made contact, however, his bat broke in half.

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