South Africa vs Australia 2018: 1st Test, Day 4 – 5 things we learnt from the day

#4 AB de Villiers commits hara-kiri

A suicidal move

After a steady start, South Africa lost a couple of quick wickets as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood dismissed Dean Elgar and Hashim Amal respectively in the span of 4 overs. The two batsmen (Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers) who looked the most comfortable at the crease in the first innings were in. Markram was batting well on 21 and de Villiers who was left stranded in the first innings had just arrived at the crease. South Africa’s hopes of saving or even getting close to the huge target relied heavily on AB de Villiers. However, he committed hara-kiri in the 2nd over of the innings.

After playing out 5 deliveries off Nathan Lyon, Markram nudged a good length ball towards square-leg. AB de Villiers from the non-striker’s end set off for a non-existent single and had reached half-way down the pitch before the South African opener sent him back. However, David Warner was quick on the ball and fired a perfect throw at the non-striker’s end. Lyon calmly dislodged the bails and caught de Villiers short.

South Africa’s best batsman had been dismissed for a first-ball duck as he walked back dejected. After he was dismissed, Faf du Plessis also didn’t last long as Pat Cummins knocked his off stump and put the hosts in all sorts of trouble.