Much-maligned Proteas captain, Temba Bavuma, has a way of making his critics eat humble pie just as they were beginning to question his abilities for the umpteenth time.
After he didn’t make much contribution with the bat in the first Test, which the Proteas lost to Australia by 214 runs in Durban last week, Bavuma had a captain’s innings as he knocked 179 runs after facing 334 deliveries in the third of the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old Bavuma, who knocked his fifth Test century, hit 17 fours and a six before he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc after he was caught behind the stumps by Australian wicketkeeper, Alex Carey.
As the Proteas were 425 for nine, Bavuma declared, asking the Australians to bat. And the Proteas had a brilliant start as Kagiso Rabada dismissed Nic Maddinson for a duck in just the fourth delivery in Australia’s first innings.
The Australians were three for one at stumps with night watchman Scott Boland on two and Travis Head with a single run.
