Bavuma enjoys his second life
Plays of the day from the ODI between South Africa and Ireland in Benoni
Firdose Moonda
25-Sep-2016
Kevin O'Brien took two wickets but a dropped catch proved costly (file photo) • Getty Images/Sportsfile
Drop of the day
Ireland put down three chances and it was the simplest which cost them the most. In the second over, South Africa's new opening batsman Temba Bavuma drove at a Peter Chase delivery with feet rooted to the ground. Bavuma got a thick edge which carried to Kevin O'Brien at second slip at some speed, catchable height and a little to the left. O'Brien got to it but could not hold on and his mistake cost Ireland more than a hundred runs: Bavuma was on 1 at the time and finished on 113.
Ireland put down three chances and it was the simplest which cost them the most. In the second over, South Africa's new opening batsman Temba Bavuma drove at a Peter Chase delivery with feet rooted to the ground. Bavuma got a thick edge which carried to Kevin O'Brien at second slip at some speed, catchable height and a little to the left. O'Brien got to it but could not hold on and his mistake cost Ireland more than a hundred runs: Bavuma was on 1 at the time and finished on 113.
Shot of the day
Pulls of the short ball were providing the main content for the highlights reel until JP Duminy played the classiest shot of the innings in the 43rd over. He shimmied down the pitch to Chase, met the ball with the full face of the bat and launched in pinpoint straight down the ground and over the advertising boards. It took some power to to play the shot but its attraction was more in the perfection.
Pulls of the short ball were providing the main content for the highlights reel until JP Duminy played the classiest shot of the innings in the 43rd over. He shimmied down the pitch to Chase, met the ball with the full face of the bat and launched in pinpoint straight down the ground and over the advertising boards. It took some power to to play the shot but its attraction was more in the perfection.
Review of the day
With new DRS protocols in place, chances of taking a wicket had increased but Kagiso Rabada did not need the regulations to take his first wicket. His second ball sped past William Porterfield before he had time to play at it and flicked the pads on the way through. Umpire Joel Wilson took a moment to consider the height and gave it out but Porterfield reviewed. Replays showed the ball was pitching in line and the point of impact, on off stump, was umpire's call and the ball would have gone on to clip the top off stump. Had Wilson called the other way, Porterfield would have survived but because he didn't the captain had to go.
With new DRS protocols in place, chances of taking a wicket had increased but Kagiso Rabada did not need the regulations to take his first wicket. His second ball sped past William Porterfield before he had time to play at it and flicked the pads on the way through. Umpire Joel Wilson took a moment to consider the height and gave it out but Porterfield reviewed. Replays showed the ball was pitching in line and the point of impact, on off stump, was umpire's call and the ball would have gone on to clip the top off stump. Had Wilson called the other way, Porterfield would have survived but because he didn't the captain had to go.
Body blow of the day
There was one off the field when Niall O'Brien was unable to take the field after slipping in the bath and hitting his head before the match and there was one on the field, after the South Africa's change bowlers took some of the heat off Ireland following pacy opening spells. Gary Wilson was anxious to get Ireland moving and called Paul Stirling through for a single when he dabbed Dwaine Pretorius wide of slip and Stirling was in danger of being found short of his ground. South Africa needed a direct hit to dismiss him but just hit the batsman instead. Stirling was struck on the leg but luckily for Ireland, not seriously enough to prevent him batting on.
There was one off the field when Niall O'Brien was unable to take the field after slipping in the bath and hitting his head before the match and there was one on the field, after the South Africa's change bowlers took some of the heat off Ireland following pacy opening spells. Gary Wilson was anxious to get Ireland moving and called Paul Stirling through for a single when he dabbed Dwaine Pretorius wide of slip and Stirling was in danger of being found short of his ground. South Africa needed a direct hit to dismiss him but just hit the batsman instead. Stirling was struck on the leg but luckily for Ireland, not seriously enough to prevent him batting on.
First-baller of the day
Not for a batsman, but a bowler. Aaron Phangiso often has to operate in the shadows of Imran Tahir but had the chance to step out here and he all but leapt at it. With the first delivery he bowled, Phangiso hit Stirling, who was by then well settled, on the front pad, plumb in front. There was no hesitation in giving Phangiso his reward and Ireland had been opened up.
Not for a batsman, but a bowler. Aaron Phangiso often has to operate in the shadows of Imran Tahir but had the chance to step out here and he all but leapt at it. With the first delivery he bowled, Phangiso hit Stirling, who was by then well settled, on the front pad, plumb in front. There was no hesitation in giving Phangiso his reward and Ireland had been opened up.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent