- Proteas hitter Kyle Verreynne said they needed to apply better hitting basics when they collapsed again.
- The Proteas had collapses of four and five wickets in their total of 189, which was their seventh successive total of under 200.
- Cameron Green tore the SA queue to pieces with his first test drive of five wickets.
Proteas wicketkeeper batsman Kyle Verreynne said getting past the first 20 balls was the basis for the face-saving partnership between him and Marco Jansen on the first day of the second Test against Australia in Melbourne on Monday.
The pair came together at 67/5 after Khaya Zondo fell to Mitchell Starc, Zondo’s wicket being the fourth in an 11-run collapse.
Jansen and Verreynne held together in a 112-run partnership that looked poised to guide the Proteas to the relative safety of 200 for the first time in seven tries.
However, there was a five wicket collapse for 10 runs precipitated by Cameron Green (5/27) which saw SA finish on 189 all out, and Australia responded at 45/1 late in the game.
SCOREKEEPER | Proteas v Australia, Test 2, Day 1
Of the Proteas top six, only Temba Bavuma (1 for 8) and Khaya Zondo (5 for 19) failed to hit 20 balls, with Theunis de Bruyn (12 for 31), Dean Elgar (26 for 58) and SJ Erwee (18 for of 31) all going in and out.
Verreynne, who made 52 to Jansen’s 59 before falling victim to Green, initially praised the improved surface condition but also blamed the impatience of his teammates.
“I think this wicket played better than the previous Test but what Marco and I did was go through the first 20 balls,” Verreynne said.
“The other associations failed in that aspect, to get past that initial period. A first day Test wicket is always going to be difficult when you come in.
“Unfortunately most of the batsmen didn’t get past that, but I felt like Marco and I put an emphasis on the first 20 balls.
“Once we got past, he played very well, but it was a shame we didn’t make it.”
Green’s maiden five-wicket haul served as a reminder of what the Proteas are looking for in an all-rounder, even though their bowling bases are covered.
Green, who recently became a millionaire in the Indian Premier League, initially knocked out De Bruyn before dismembering the tail.
READ | Verreynne laments Proteas’ weak batting in ‘better’ condition: ‘It’s hard to take’
Verreynne praised Green for his spell and the cunning way in which he was used by his captain Pat Cummins.
“He’s a little bit different because he’s tall, but he also has the ability to shape the ball a little bit,” Verreynne said.
“That’s different since the other two right-handers are more of a seam pitcher. Also, because he’s an all-rounder used as a fourth-hitting closer, they tend to use him in short bursts.
“It’s a luxury for them.”
