Olivier, Amla Deliver Easy Win in Centurion Test

Hashim Amla who has been in terrible form with the bat of late, struck a composed half century in the 4th innings in the Centurion Test match to help South Africa go 1-0 up in the 3-match Test series against Pakistan. Opener Dean Elgar too chipped in with a crucial half century alongside Amla that helped them record a 6-wicket victory at the Centurion Park.

Chasing a par total of 149 in the 4th innings, South Africa lost their opener Aiden Markram for a 2-ball duck. Amla and Elgar then combined for a for 119-run stand for the 2nd wicket taking the home team closer to their target. Pakistan though made three quick in-roads after this big partnership between Amla and Elgar, South Africa romped home comfortably in the Test match that lasted for just 3 days!

The Test match has a record in itself as the captains from both the sides registered a pair. Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed registered a 4-ball duck and a 2-ball duck in this Test match while his counterpart Faf du Plessis registered a first ball duck and a 6-ball duck. This is only the first time in the history of Test cricket that captains from both sides bagged a pair in the same Test match!

Earlier in the first day of the Test match, South African veteran pacer Dale Steyn dismissed Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman to become South Africa’s leading wicket taker in this format of the game. He surpassed his former teammate and captain Shaun Pollock to bag the milestone!

Duanne Olivier playing in only his sixth Test match bowled brilliantly in both the innings picking up a 5-wicket haul in both the innings – 6/37 in the first innings and 5/59 in the second innings. He stole the show in this Boxing Day Test match that had many records in it. And duly Olivier was awarded as the ‘Player of the Match’.

The 2nd Test match of this 3-match series will be played at the New Lands stadium in Cape Town starting from January 03 2019. Problems seem aplenty for both these teams with batting collapses that needs to be worked on before the start of the Cape Town Test match!

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