 "South Africa captain Temba Bavuma batted for more than three hours for his unbeaten 55, facing 136 deliveries along the way. PTI")
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma stood tall on a challenging wicket at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Sunday as he became the first batter to score a half-century in the ongoing first Test against India . Bavuma remained unbeaten on 55 – the only batter from either team to score 40 or more runs in what has been a low-scoring affair so far – on Day 3 as South Africa were bowled out for 153 in their second essay, setting the hosts 124 to win the opening game of the two-match Test series.
The Proteas skipper collected just four boundaries in a gritty knock spanning more than three hours in which he faced 136 deliveries. And along the way, he stitched a handy 44-run partnership for the eighth wicket with all-rounder Corbin Bosch (25) – the only other batter to go past 20 in the innings.
The reigning world Test champions had been shot out for 159 in the first innings, and were facing the prospect of getting bowled out for less than 100 in their second innings after conceding a slender 30-run lead. Bavuma’s knock and his partnership with Bosch, however, ensured the Proteas attack – which is missing spearhead Kagiso Rabada due to a rib injury – had some cushion in their quest to bowl their team to a memorable victory with.
With South Africa getting bowled out for 153 after Mohammed Siraj’s removal of Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj in his second over, India needed 124 runs to collect their fourth consecutive victory in the format.
Quick Reads
View AllBavuma stands tall after being made fun for his height
And what drew Bavuma even more praise was the fact that he stood tall and produced a fighting half-century despite being targeted with comments from the opposition that made fun of his height .
Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, after all, was heard calling him a “bauna” – the Hindi word for a dwarf – while discussing the possibility of a review with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant following an unsuccessful LBW appeal in the first innings.
Here are select reactions to Bavuma’s half-century: