South African Batsmen Enjoy Good Workout Ahead Of Third Test

South African Batsmen Enjoy Good Workout Ahead Of Third Test

AB de Villiers top-scored for the South Africans on day one at Derby.

©Action Images / Ian Smith Livepic

South Africans 365-4d (de Villiers 97) v
Derbyshire 75-1 (Khawaja 36no)
Tour Match, Derby, Day One

Only Alviro Petersen was missing for the South Africans on the first day at Derby as the tourists named 15 for their two-day match against LV= County Championship Division Two table-toppers Derbyshire. They were inserted by the home side’s captain – South African-born Wayne Madsen – and lost Jacques Rudolph for 15 to Alasdair Evans in the fourth over after the left-hander had struck three pleasing boundaries.

That was about as good as it got for the bowlers on either side, as five South African batsmen made 42 or more and Derbyshire closed on 75 for one. Hashim Amla continued to look in good touch during his 49-ball innings before playing around a straight delivery from seamer Ross Whiteley, while AB de Villiers and JP Duminy added 157 for the third-wicket.

De Villiers retired on 97, while Duminy was caught and bowled by former Yorkshire all-rounder David Wainwright for 69. Faf du Plessis then marked his South African red-ball debut with a characteristically aggressive unbeaten 76-ball 68, while Albie Morkel added an equally aggressive 49 off 57 balls before the declaration came with them on 365 for four.

This left Derbyshire with 22 overs to face before stumps, which they negotiated with relative ease. Dale Steyn didn’t get a bowl, despite being named in the 15, with Vernon Philander getting the only wicket – that of young opener Matt Lineker for 14. Usman Khawaja closed with a fluent 36 off 41 balls, with Madsen more cautious in making 20 off 74.