De Villiers’ excellent batting let the Sunday crowd at Newlands party all day
Samantha Smith05-Jan-2015Choice of game
The sun’s out, it’s the weekend and South Africa’s middle order is batting in a Test match at picturesque Newlands. The average cricket supporter needs no further convincing!Team supported
South Africa. I’m an avid cricket lover and student of the game. However, it would be remiss of me to attempt to remain a neutral spectator. I’ve supported the Proteas since the age of 8 and the idea of cheering any other side is an uncomfortable thought.Key performer
AB de Villiers top-scored for the Proteas with 148. He produced a marvellous knock smashing 15 fours and a six during his 194-ball innings. He put on 97 for the fourth wicket with Hashim Amla and 96 for the sixth with Stiaan van Zyl. His efforts ensured South Africa achieved a helpful lead and, unlike several other batsmen in this Test, he managed to convert a good start into a big score.One thing I’d have changed about the match
Amla and de Villiers are without a doubt the batting pillars of South African cricket. The opportunity to watch this duo bat together in a Test at a venue like Newlands is an understated privilege. To this end, I would have loved to have seen Amla capitalise on an excellent start, if only to watch him bat longer.The interplay I enjoyed
While most batsmen nervously fumble as they near a century, de Villiers raced toward his 21st hundred. In the 99th over, he smashed Marlon Samuels for 16 runs, reaching his century with a reverse sweep off the final ball of the over. Fearless and authoritative, he continues to enthrall everyone who has the pleasure of watching him bat.Wow moment
Leon Johnson’s direct hit from cover to run out Dale Steyn was a simply brilliant piece of fielding which stunted South Africa’s chances of achieving a lead of 100 and generated many gasps from the partisan crowd.Close encounter
I was seated in Upper Block K of the President’s Pavilion, which is directly adjacent to the West Indies’ balcony. Pockets of enthusiastic fans seated in the area lined the steps leading up to the West Indies change room. Children adorning Protea shirts eagerly clutched their mini wooden bats and notebooks patiently waiting for autographs from whichever players would oblige.Shot of the day
De Villiers’ straight drive off the bowling of Jason Holder in the 70th over took the cake. But his sublimely executed on drive off the same bowler in the 100th over took the whole bakery!Crowd meter
A near-capacity crowd cruised into Newlands for the third day’s play. The Railway Stand and the upper tiers of the North Stand were choc-a-bloc. Unsurprisingly, the Oaks grass embankment and the Snake Pit were so full that a match stick would feel suffocated. The crowd became livelier as the morning wore on and South Africa piled on the runs. A Mexican wave made four circuits an hour before the tea break and the folks in the Railway Stand sang the national anthem with great applause from other sections of the ground. In appreciation of his bowling prowess, the Newlands faithful vociferously cheered on Steyn as he strode out to bat. If you don’t usually watch cricket you’d be excused for thinking Steyn was a prolific opening batsman.Fancy dress index
I spotted green afro wigs, a brigade of watermelon hats and hundreds of spectators decked out in the green and gold paraphernalia of the Proteas. Three gentlemen came as superheroes using SA flags as capes, and one lady wore a neon green bodysuit. A large group of lively, chanting supporters dressed up as Hashim Amla. They adorned Test whites, wide-brimmed hats and detachable beards. Their efforts were pleasantly recognised as they performed a lap of honour around the field during the lunch break.Entertainment
The PA system frequently blared the smooth reggae tunes of yesteryear interspersed with current fast-paced Dancehall tracks. No doubt a nod to the Calypso flavour of the West Indies team. During the lunch break, the crowd was entertained by the children from KFC Mini Cricket who excitedly accepted the opportunity to play cricket on the same field as their idols.Tests v limited-overs
Test cricket is the only format of the game which thoroughly tests a player’s skill, stamina and powers of concentration. There is very little you can get from a T20 which you cannot derive from a Test. From India’s miraculous victory over Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001 to South Africa’s nail-biting draw against India at the Wanderers in 2013, Test cricket is as exciting as the shorter formats of the game.Accessories
I opted to bring along a pair of binoculars, and it proved a good decision. The clarity and focus of the images were so crisp that I could see fragments of the pitch bounce up when a batsman marked his guard. I felt like a fly on the helmet of a wicketkeeper.Banner of the day
“South Africa, you inspire Protea Fire” emblazoned across a giant South Africa flag floating over a section of seats in an adjacent stand certainly caught my attention. Technically, it wasn’t a banner but it was arguably the most inspiring, and definitely the most eye-catching, non-verbal display of support.Marks out of 10
9. Great weather, an excellent atmosphere and a sublime century from AB de Villiers made for a brilliant day at the cricket.
