South Africa’s new test captain, Temba Bavuma, broke a seven-year century drought when he struck his second ton on the third day of the second Betway test against the West Indies at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.
Bavuma, who was dismissed for a pair in his debut test as captain at Centurion last week, almost literally went from zero to hero as he struck an undefeated 171 in 275 balls (20x4s) to help South Africa reach an imposing 287 for seven in their second innings, an overall lead of 356 which puts his team in a powerful position to push for victory on the final two days.
He will, however, be conscious of the fact that the Wanderers’ pitch has held together remarkably well and is still an excellent batting surface.
Temba Bavuma's 171* has given South Africa a big lead ??#WTC23 | #SAvWI | Scorecard: https://t.co/holkApIRGI pic.twitter.com/11q560uyLW
— ICC (@ICC) March 10, 2023
Bavuma’s only century before today was his unbeaten 102 in the New Year’s test in 2016 against England at Newlands in Cape Town.
He has gone close since then, and has struck 20 fifties in his 56 test matches, but three figures finally beckoned again for the diminutive 32-year-old batter from Langa outside Cape Town to the delight of the crowd at the Wanderers, and on social media throughout the country.
Speaking afterwards, Bavuma said: “It’s been no secret that this (second hundred) has been a long time coming. I froze a bit just before I got to my ton but when it came I really wanted to let my emotions out. I’m quite satisfied. Today I just wanted to stay within my game plan. As a captain I know I need to lead from the front and I hope things get stronger and stronger from now on.”
Temba Bavuma reacts to his brilliant 171* ????? pic.twitter.com/NkoH21cpnv
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) March 10, 2023
The diminutive right-hander came to the crease in the eighth over of the day after South Africa had fallen to eight for two wickets in their second innings, trying to build on a first-innings advantage of 69.
Things got worse before they got better with the third wicket falling at 32 and the fourth on 69 just before lunch.
Heinrich Klaasen fell for 14 with the total on 103 but that was the high water mark for the visitors as Bavuma teamed up with Wiaan Mulder (42 off 71 balls) to add 103 in 160 balls for the sixth wicket either side of tea, perhaps the key period in the match.
The pair absorbed big pressure to begin with, but then they imposed themselves on the bowlers with the pacemen bowled into the ground and spinners Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase unable to maintain the pressure.
Bavuma’s hundred finally arrived half-an-hour after tea when he faced the bowling of Joseph on 99.
MARKRAM FALLS TO A BEAUTY
Although there was a tense moment when he swung and missed at a wide one, the whole ground – including his proud father – celebrated when Bavuma smacked an exuberant drive on the up through the covers for four to reach his landmark.
Temba Bavuma gets his 2nd Test 100 ??????
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) March 10, 2023
What it means to him, his dad and his teammates ??
?? The isiXhosa commentary team said it best ?? pic.twitter.com/sc7TuajY3c
When Mulder fell, caught hooking at Alzarri Joseph on the square leg boundary, the force was fully with the Proteas and Simon Harmer and Bavuma took full advantage on a pitch playing easily as they added a further 71 in 124 balls before Jason Holder finally got some reward for his labour when he trapped the spinner leg before.
The quality, as well as the value of Bavuma’s innings, can be gauged by the fact that they were in deep trouble when he came to the crease.
Dean Elgar, Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton all played poor shots to gift their wickets. Only Aiden Markram, who received a superb delivery from Kemar Roach, was truly got out.
Elgar was out in the first over. He guided a Mayers delivery backward of point for four and then tried to repeat the stroke, top-edging to Chase at gully who caught the ball at the second attempt.
De Zorzi played an indeterminate shot to a ball from Mayers that he should have left, his angled bat deflecting the ball onto his stumps.
The real prize, though, was the wicket of Markram. Kemar Roach did the trick with a beauty, the ball angling in and straightening, kissing the edge of Markram’s defensive bat.
Bavuma was joined by Ryan Rickelton and the two added 37 before Rickelton, who had fenced outside his off-stump on more than one occasion, finally got an edge to an innocuous Raymon Reifer delivery that he should have left well alone.
But all that was forgotten at the end of a day that ended in a personal triumph for the South African captain and a position of strength for his team.
From 8/2 to 287/7 ??
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) March 10, 2023
A day that belongs to Temba Bavuma with the crowd on their feet to applaud ©?
The Proteas lead by 356 at the end of day three. pic.twitter.com/xlr3LDyVg4
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Kyle Myers, Joshua da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach