South African captain, Temba Bavuma, admitted that he could not bare to watch as Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen built an unbroken ninth partnership of 51 to record a nail-biting, two-wicket victory in the first test at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts crashed to 99-8 before Rabada’s exhilarating 31 not out from just 25 balls and Jansen’s supporting 16* from 24 balls not only clinched victory but secured the Proteas’ place in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in on June 11 next year.
Bavuma’s emotions were compounded by his bizarre dismissal for a top score of 40 when he ‘walked’ for an edge to ‘keeper Mohammad Rizwan off the brilliant bowling of bowling of Mohammad Abbas who bowled unchanged throughout the innings for a career-best return of 6-54 in 19.3 overs.
“We did it the hard way but I’m just so relieved we did enough to get the result,” Bavuma said. “I was sulking in the toilets and didn’t come out until we needed about 15 runs. I’d like to say there was still confidence that we could do it, but it was a tough one,” Bavuma said.
The usually calm Bavuma was unusually but understandably emotional after the result: “It’s a really big one, not just for me but for the team and for the coach. Looking at the way we started our campaign, drawing with India and then losing to New Zealand with not so strong a team…the way we have found a way to win when it mattered most, it’s very special.
“We were not really given much of a chance and expectations were not so high that we could get to this point but we have overcome a lot without being super-dominant with our performances. We haven’t always been ruthless but we have found a way to make sure the result was on our side
“We hope that performances like these can give a lot of confidence to people who are watching the team and that these players are here for a reason, they are the best and they are proud to be representing their country.
“We’ll enjoy the moment and take stock of what we have done and what we are set to achieve as a team. I saw the beers being packed in the change room so, it’s a bad day to be a beer,” a delighted Bavuma said.