The edge behind that went unnoticed could be the luck the Proteas need to push forward on day two.
Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis had several lives in Hamilton on Saturday, but he’s got a chance to put that behind him and start afresh on day two, weather permitting.
It was a frustrating day in general for the New Zealanders. They’ll be happy to have seen off the top order, but plenty of opportunities went begging, including a missed chance to turn over an lbw decision against JP Duminy while he was on seven, before wasting both of their reviews.
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The second of those reviews involved Faf du Plessis, as the review they sent upstairs revealed the Du Plessis had middled it. This was after Kane Williamson squandered the opportunity to run him out when he was on one, and after Hashim Amla was dropped in the covers on 22.
Two overs after that wasted review, Du Plessis appeared to feather one behind off his old Affies schoolmate Neil Wagner. The umpire was having none of it, and Wagner could do nothing about it. On 16 at the time, Snicko revealed Du Plessis had edged it.
Wagner’s frustrations continued as Du Plessis edged one through the slip cordon, and two balls later edged it over the wicketkeeper. He went on to 33 by the close of play, and will hope to take more control of his innings alongside Temba Bavuma, who is on 13.
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