Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis fell agonisingly short of making history scoring his first Test double century on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Centurion on Monday.
The former Proteas captain knocked 199 runs from 276 deliveries and became the ninth player in Test history to fall one run short of making a double ton.
Despite the disappointment of failing to score his first double century, Du Plessis would be happy that he scored his 10th Test
century as he improved his career best from 137 to 199.
Du Plessis’ runs were an immense contribution to the Proteas’ total of 621 for 10 wickets in 142.1 overs.
The Sri Lankans, who scored 396 runs for nine in 96 overs in their first innings, were 65 for two at stumps with Kusal Perera on 21 and Dinesh Chandimal on 33.
Sri Lanka’s second innings didn’t start well as Proteas bowler Lungi Ngidi bowled out Dimuth Karunaratne (six runs) in the third over with the score board reading 10.
Ngidi then claimed Kusal Mendis’ wicket, who went out with a duck, with the score being 22 in the fifth over. Mendis was caught by Rassie van der Dussen at slip.
Meanwhile, Proteas batsman Temba Bavuma left cricket followers bewildered when he walked without the umpire giving him out.
Bowled by Dasun Shanaka, Bavuma thought he had edged the ball, which was caught by Niroshan Dickwella behind the sticks. However, television replays from all angles showed that Bavuma had completely
missed the ball.
Bavuma’s unfortunate walk broke a healthy 179 fifth-wicket partnership between him and Du Plessis.
The Lions’ batsman, who was chasing his second Test century, was on 71 runs from 125 deliveries by the time he walked when the Proteas had scored 399 runs in the 91st over.
