Having batted his way back into form with a fighting ton in the second Test against Pakistan‚ Proteas captain Faf du Plessis came out batting for teammate Temba Bavuma afterwards.
The diminutive middle order batsman scored 75 in SA’s first innings but was criticised by SuperSport guest commentator Kevin Pietersen for not converting more starts into hundreds.
Bavuma’s only Test ton is the one he famously scored against England at Newlands in 2016.
Last year at the Wanderers he came close, scoring 95 not out against Australia.
“Temba will be the first guy to tell you he has had a few opportunities where he could have gone on to score 100s where the wickets were good enough to cash in‚” the SA captain said.
“He’s a very motivated cricketer, with drive to improve. He wants to become a better player.
“To do that, when you get an opportunity you need to cash in.
“That’s the difference between averaging in the 30s to the 40s.
“These days there are not many players averaging into the 50s in all conditions around the world.
“Your 40 to 45s are your great players. Test matches are shorter‚ wickets spin sooner on the sub continent‚ the ball moves more in Tests here.
“Temba is definitely working on that. In terms of the value of runs he has scored for us over the last two years‚ there’s a lot of important innings where he got runs where we were in deep trouble.
“He’s got us 60‚ 70s and won us the game.”
Although Bavuma also missed out in the latest Test‚ Du Plessis underlined the telling contribution he made.
“Two Test matches in a row now he has scored runs on tough pitches,” he said.
“He showed that if you apply yourself mentally and have a technique there is a way.”
For Du Plessis, too, it was a welcome return to form after he bagged a pair in the first Test in Centurion.
He scored a fighting hundred in the first innings taking a number of body blows along the way.