When Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen batted together, some people may have feared that they were straining their necks between overs on the second day of the Proteas’ first Test against Sri Lanka.
The difference in height between the short in stature Bavuma and the beanpole Jansen was there for all to see when they discussed their plans after each over. Bavuma had to look up to the 2.06m-tall Jansen, while the all-rounder had to really look down at his 1.62m captain.
But both ended a blustery day at Durban’s Kingsmead with massive performances that put South Africa firmly in the driving seat ahead of the third day’s play on Friday.
Bavuma played an extraordinary innings to lift the South Africans to an unlikely 191 all-out after they were 117/7, with Wiaan Mulder off the park with a fractured finger. Jansen then produced one of the all-time great Test match spells to help dismiss Sri Lanka for a record low 42 all out.
The Proteas now lead the Sri Lankans by an unlikely 281 with seven wickets in hand in their second innings. It’s the sort of seismic shift in fortunes only the grand old game of Test cricket can provide.
Bavuma hadn’t played any cricket in the middle since injuring his elbow in the One-Day International series against Ireland back in October. He came into this Test seriously underdone, and walking into the crease at 14/2 he had to lead from the front.
And lead he did, batting with the class, grit and maturity that so many South Africans take for granted. While others were nicking off, he played the seaming ball late and under his eyes beneath the dark Durban clouds.
On day two he was just as resolute, but played a few more shots in the bright sunshine. Others came and went, but he stood firm, making a 70 that would give the Proteas’ attack some change in their pockets to work with.
So often Bavuma is criticised for not scoring more centuries. But this knock, in the conditions against a disciplined bowling attack, was right up there with his best. Jansen certainly appreciated that effort …
“I thought we were going to be bowled out for about 130. Temba’s innings helped us to get to 190,” the lanky Jansen said.
“His knock was crucial with the ball seaming, nipping around. It might not be a hundred, but the value of that 70 might as well be a century. That definitely propelled us to a bigger score.”
Jansen had been on a conditioning break over the last few months after losing a bit of rhythm with the ball, having played a lot of cricket.
The 24-year-old has become a key player in all formats of the game for the Proteas, and it was a bit of a shock that he was left out of the away Test series against the West Indies and Bangladesh, while also not making the ODI series in the United Arab Emirates against Ireland and Afghanistan.
But the rest seemed to have done him the world of good, as he steamed in with the wind at his back to blow away the Sri Lankans. He took 7/13 in 6.5 overs, career-best figures, by bowling a great line and length to extract the maximum value out of the Kingsmead pitch that was still doing quite a bit on the second afternoon.
“Mentally I feel a lot more refreshed, which is nice. It’s similar to the physical,” Jansen said.
“It feels like I can go for a longer period of time and concentrate on a high level, which is what you want as a player. Mentally I feel like I’m in a good space”
The only blot on his copybook was a few no-balls. However, each time he overstepped, the next ball he would take a wicket. This happened three times. A bizarre coincidence.
Jansen, though, said it was just that - a coincidence.
“Gerald [Coetzee] actually asked what is the name of the bookie. I said there is no chance,” Jansen joked. “It’s funny, because at one stage the only runs I conceded were no-balls.
“It’s not the wind’s fault, but it was quite difficult. I also changed my run-up before coming back, I made it a bit shorter. It was just one of those days … I think I came in too quickly or didn’t start on my mark.”
In the end, the long and the short of it is that the Proteas had a pretty good day thanks Bavuma and Jansen.
@JohnGoliath82