• Saffas Abroad: Elgar excels for Essex

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    Dean Elgar’s dream start for Essex and Leus du Plooy’s blistering century for Middlesex were the standout moments from South Africans in the opening two rounds of England’s County Championship.

    County Championship Division One

    In a mammoth 254-run win over Nottinghamshire, Essex’s Dean Elgar scored a first-innings 80 off 156 balls (12 fours) before falling to Nottinghamshire’s Dane Paterson, who finished with figures of 5-49.

    Elgar followed up with 26 off 45 balls (five fours) in Essex’s second innings, while Nottinghamshire’s Durban-born Calvin Harrison claimed figures of 2-24.

    Essex’s second match, a draw with Kent, brought more success for Elgar, who scored 120 off 176 deliveries (18 fours) in the first innings and 34 off 48 (three fours) in the second, while teammate Simon Harmer chipped in with a handy 44 off 73 balls (five fours).

    Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings, son of former SA wicketkeeper Ray, top-scored in his side’s draw with Hampshire, scoring a first-innings 172 off 297 balls (21 fours).

    Nottinghamshire’s Harrison scored 52 off 148 deliveries (seven fours) in a draw with Worcestershire, before claiming figures of 5-128.

    Proteas batsman David Bedingham scored 49 off 70 balls (five fours, two sixes) and 36 off 41 (four fours, one six) for Durham in a draw with Warwickshire.

    County Championship Division Two

    Colin Ingram was in top form for Glamorgan in their draw with Middlesex, scoring 132 off 165 balls (12 fours, four sixes), while

    Ingram was among the runs again in his side’s draw with Derbyshire, scoring 30 off 82 balls (one four) and 51 off 76 balls (eight fours), while Durban-born Wayne Madsen scored 63 off 113 balls (seven fours) and 25 off 43 (four fours) for Derbyshire.

    Graeme van Buuren struck an unbeaten 51 off 77 balls (eight fours) and picked up figures of 3-83 for Gloucestershire in their draw with Yorkshire.

    Joburg-born Aristides Karvelas notched 55 off 40 balls (six fours, three sixes) for Sussex in their draw with Leicestershire.

    In a high-scoring draw with Northamptonshire, Middlesex’s Du Plooy narrowly missed out on a double century, scoring an unbeaten 196 off just 205 balls (16 fours, four sixes).

    โ€“ Compiled by Rienk de Beer

    Photo: X/@EssexCricket

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    Rienk De Beer