Under-19: Player of the day - Rudolph sets Katunayake ablaze
When someone slams 156 runs off 140 balls in the first match he is playing in a big tournament like the World Cup, you know that you better keep a keen eye on him
Anand Vasu
12-Jan-2000
When someone slams 156 runs off 140 balls in the first match he is
playing in a big tournament like the World Cup, you know that you
better keep a keen eye on him. Jacques Rudolph has caught the eye of
everyone who witnessed his knock against Nepal. Rudolph showed how to
build a large innings without losing tempo, and that was the key to
South Africa posting a large total.
When the ball was pitched up to him, Rudolph had no hesitation in
thumping it cleanly through the line and over the top of the
infield. When he cleared the infield, the ball invariably found its
way to the boundary. The shot of the day was a full blooded on drive
that sailed well over the boundary ropes and landed about 20 feet
behind the ropes. To keep his 12 fours company, Rudolph clubbed 2
sixes as well. When the runs weren't coming as easily as they should
have, Rudolph turned the ball away neatly into the gaps and picked up
quick twos. His knock was the backbone of the South African innings.
As if all that wasn't enough, Rudolph sprang to life on the field and
effected the first wicket of the Nepal innings by running out Kiran
Agarwal with a direct hit. When the captain threw Rudolph the ball
to roll his arm over, Rudolph struck again, and Virender Shah caught
before the batsman could open his account. When rain came down,
Rudolph had figures of 2-0-4-1. Jacques Rudolph was by far the best
player on the day.