A toot, a tickle and a triple
Plays of the Day from the fourth day of the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan
Firdose Moonda at Newlands
17-Feb-2013
Asad Shafiq watches the ball ... on to his stumps • Getty Images
Noise of the day
The tracks that run past Newlands add to the atmosphere but it's not often a train catches any attention. On Sunday, an unusual toot emerged from the Kelvin Grove side of the ground that sounded like an old-fashioned steam train. Within a few seconds, a black-and-red locomotive sailed past, presumably a tourist venture. It seemed to so surprise Azhar Ali that he didn't react to the late movement from a Dale Steyn delivery and got a leading edge that dropped just short of Jacques Kallis at second slip.
The tracks that run past Newlands add to the atmosphere but it's not often a train catches any attention. On Sunday, an unusual toot emerged from the Kelvin Grove side of the ground that sounded like an old-fashioned steam train. Within a few seconds, a black-and-red locomotive sailed past, presumably a tourist venture. It seemed to so surprise Azhar Ali that he didn't react to the late movement from a Dale Steyn delivery and got a leading edge that dropped just short of Jacques Kallis at second slip.
Bad luck of the day
In a mirror image of Faf du Plessis' dismissal at the Wanderers, Asad Shafiq could only watch as the ball looped back towards his stumps and shaved off to remove a bail. He defended a Vernon Philander deliver but did not act as it bounced behind him and then spun to hit the base. Had he turned around quicker, he may have been able to kick the ball away but like du Plessis wasn't aware of where the ball had gone and had to make the walk back to the change-room.
In a mirror image of Faf du Plessis' dismissal at the Wanderers, Asad Shafiq could only watch as the ball looped back towards his stumps and shaved off to remove a bail. He defended a Vernon Philander deliver but did not act as it bounced behind him and then spun to hit the base. Had he turned around quicker, he may have been able to kick the ball away but like du Plessis wasn't aware of where the ball had gone and had to make the walk back to the change-room.
Hat-trick of the day
It didn't belong to an individual but to the team as South Africa took three wickets in three balls to seize the advantage. Sarfraz Ahmed has not batted as well as he is capable of in this series and will regret leaving a Robin Peterson ball that pitched in the rough and turned significantly. He did not offer a shot as it spun towards the stumps and hit middle. Azhar then poked at one from Philander and then Alviro Petersen took a stunning catch to seal the collapse. Umar Gul did not have to reach for the ball outside off but tried to drive and Petersen, at fourth slip, flung himself to the left to put Pakistan in some trouble.
It didn't belong to an individual but to the team as South Africa took three wickets in three balls to seize the advantage. Sarfraz Ahmed has not batted as well as he is capable of in this series and will regret leaving a Robin Peterson ball that pitched in the rough and turned significantly. He did not offer a shot as it spun towards the stumps and hit middle. Azhar then poked at one from Philander and then Alviro Petersen took a stunning catch to seal the collapse. Umar Gul did not have to reach for the ball outside off but tried to drive and Petersen, at fourth slip, flung himself to the left to put Pakistan in some trouble.
Almost bouncer of the day
It is a common fast bowler's trick to try and hit their counterparts when they are batting but Steyn couldn't get his bouncer high enough to 7ft 1in Mohammad Irfan. The world's tallest cricketer even had a swing at Steyn, the ball looping over mid-off, and the world's top-ranked fast bowler wasn't happy. Given the height of Irfan, Steyn's short ball wasn't going to ping him on the head. Irfan was hit on the chest and Steyn probably would have been no-balled for height if it was any other batsmen.
It is a common fast bowler's trick to try and hit their counterparts when they are batting but Steyn couldn't get his bouncer high enough to 7ft 1in Mohammad Irfan. The world's tallest cricketer even had a swing at Steyn, the ball looping over mid-off, and the world's top-ranked fast bowler wasn't happy. Given the height of Irfan, Steyn's short ball wasn't going to ping him on the head. Irfan was hit on the chest and Steyn probably would have been no-balled for height if it was any other batsmen.
No-ball of the day
Dav Whatmore, Pakistan's coach, joked that he was unconcerned about Irfan running on the pitch because he simply "has big feet". They did him another disservice today. Irfan had Petersen caught at mid-on after he mistimed a pull shot but the no-ball check showed that his foot was just over. After many replays, Petersen was called back.
Dav Whatmore, Pakistan's coach, joked that he was unconcerned about Irfan running on the pitch because he simply "has big feet". They did him another disservice today. Irfan had Petersen caught at mid-on after he mistimed a pull shot but the no-ball check showed that his foot was just over. After many replays, Petersen was called back.
Annoyance of the day
Graeme Smith was out sweeping to Saeed Ajmal in the first innings. So when he was trapped lbw after doing the same thing in the second, he was rightly irritated with himself. After deciding not to review the decision on consultation with Hashim Amla, Smith walked off the field but not before hitting himself, fairly gently, on the helmet with his bat.
Graeme Smith was out sweeping to Saeed Ajmal in the first innings. So when he was trapped lbw after doing the same thing in the second, he was rightly irritated with himself. After deciding not to review the decision on consultation with Hashim Amla, Smith walked off the field but not before hitting himself, fairly gently, on the helmet with his bat.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent