Same Script Different Cast

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against Australia in Port Elizabeth.
The pitch that most referred to as dead, came alive on Day 2 for the Proteas. Apparently the most likely result to come out of it would be a draw. Then again how did South Africa get a win, taking 20 wickets from a dead wicket? Provided, Day 5 was expected to be rained out.

So, this is what a dead wicket produced:
Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar both reached half centuries.
AB de Villiers became the fourth South African, and second fastest after Graeme Smith, to score 7 000 Test runs, and in reaching his 50 became the first batsman in history to score 50 or more in 12 consecutive Tests. De Villiers also reached his 19th Test century, his 5th against Australia.
De Villiers and Duminy shared a record breaking partnership of 149 runs at St Georges in Port Elizabeth.
Duminy reached 1 000 Test runs from 23 matches and got his groove back by scoring 123 runs before being dismissed.

Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers as he celebrated his fifth 5-wicket haul.
South Africa were all out for 423 runs.

Parnell started the South African defence very well, with figures of 2-0 after his first over.
Once again, Warner reached his 11th Test 50 as he was dropped along the way.
At one point, Australia found themselves needing a few runs to avoid the follow on, still trailing South Africa with more than 200 runs, with a few wickets in hand.
Unfortunately for South Africa, Wayne Parnell struggled with a left groin strain and went for a scan. The scans didn't show a tear to the groin but Parnell was unlikely to bowl again during the Test.
Thanks to the bowling of Morkel, Johnson got a taste of his own medicine (the hurt factor). Moreover, Morkel also gave Lyon and Warner a few knocks.
Not many highlights in the Australian camp, as they were bowled out for 246 in 57 overs, trailing South Africa by 177 runs.

In the second innings, Amla got his mojo back as he reached his 21st Test century and his 5th against Australia. Then on the list of most centuries by a South African batsman, Amla moved to joint 3rd with Gary Kirsten.
A few minutes before lunch after adding 270 runs to their score, South Africa declared, leaving Australia needing 448 runs for victory.

For a moment, questions of the declaration were probably running through Smith's mind as Rogers (6th 50) and Warner (12th 50) got off to a great start, with both of them reaching their Test half centuries one behind the other.
After the 100 run partnership between the opening batsmen, Australia began to tumble.
Unnoticed, Rogers crept to his 4th Test century, with Australia on 194-6.
During the collapse, Australia lost 4 wickets for 4 runs, and it was no longer a matter of Australia needing a certain number of runs to win, but a matter of South Africa needing a few wickets to win.
In the end, South Africa won by 231 runs, with a day to spare. Duminy was named Man of the Match for his 123 and a couple of wickets while South Africa levelled the 3-match series and head to Newlands for the decide.

Areas of Concern:
DRS
Dropping catches
Inconsistency
Congratulations to the SA U19s on beating Afghanistan by 9 wickets to enter the semi-finals of the U19 World Cup.

Proteas ICC World Twenty20 Squad

Cricket South Africa named the 15-man squad that will represent South Africa in Bangladesh. For the ICC World Twenty20 from 16 March to 6 April.

SQUAD

Faf du Plessis (c)

Hashim Amla

Farhaan Behardien

Quinton de Kock

AB de Villiers

JP Duminy

Beuran Hendricks

Imran Tahir

David Miller

Albie Morkel

Morne Morkel

Wayne Parnell

Aaron Phangiso

Dale Steyn

Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Beuran Hendricks gets his 1st call up to the Proteas squad, due to his record breaking Ram Slam T20 campaign where he took 28 wickets.

Albie Morkel also earned his way back into the squad for the first time since his last appearance in 2012.

Another player who showed off his batting skills during the Ram Slam T20 was Sunfoil Dolphins batsman David Miller. He was the campaigns highest run-scorer with 383 runs and a high score of 93 runs not out.

Quinton de Kock who became only the fifth batsman to score three consecutive ODI centuries was also included in the squad. Especially since he scored them against India.

The Proteas will be led by skipper Faf du Plessis and maybe de Kock will keep wicket instead of de Villiers. The Proteas attack will be headed by Dale Steyn who will be supported by Tsotsobe, Hendricks, Parnell and the Morkel brothers.

It looks like a pretty good team. Hopefully they can leave Bangladesh with something else instead of the dreaded "chockers" tag.

Australia Crush Proteas in 1st Test

1st INNINGS
SA won the toss and chose to field.
Australia found themselves 98-4 before Marsh and Smith produced a 233 run partnership that put the Australia in the driving seat.
Moreover, Marsh reached his 2nd Test century and Smith reached his 4th Test century.
Australia added exactly 100 runs to their score before they were all dismissed for 397 runs.
Graeme Smith started the Proteas innings with a boundary, unfortunately he lost his wicket after scoring only 10 runs. Smith, Petersen, du Plessis and McLaren fell quickly to the aggressive Johnson.
The fall of the wickets in quick succession left the Proteas at 43-4 at one stage.
No.1 Test batsman AB de Villiers came in and tried to salvage the innings for the Proteas and reached his 35th half century before the close of play, with South Africa 257 runs behind and in need of 58 runs to avoid the follow on.
The wicket of Peterson resulted in Johnson's 11th Test 5-wicket haul.
A single between Steyn and de Villiers helped South Africa avoid the follow-on as they managed to attain the runs they needed to avoid the follow-on.
Unfortunately de Villiers fell 9 runs short of his half century.
The Proteas were all out for 206, still trailing the Australia by 191 runs.
With both 1st innings done and dusted, Johnson finished with figures of 7-68, which is his 3rd best in Test cricket.
2nd INNINGS
Beginning with a lead of 151 runs, and losing an early wicket, the Australia applied the pressure with Doolan and Warner recording the highest 2nd wicket partnership at Centurion of 205 runs.
After being dropped several times, Warner reached his 6th Test century while Doolan got his maiden Test 50.
After adding only 2 runs to their overnight score and before Marsh was dismissed for 44 runs, the declaration followed.
Many thought the Australia would declare after an hour or so or overnight. I'm thinking Clarke wanted Marsh to get a half century and take it from there.

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Australia left the Proteas needing 482 runs to win, with a day and a half (or so) play left.
The Proteas had a terrible start, with the wicket of Petersen being Johnson's 250th Test wicket.
Amla reached 6 000 Test runs. Which also makes him the second fastest South African to reach the milestone.
5 wickets down and Johnson claimed his 3rd Test 10-wicket haul and soon secured his 12th Test 5-wicket haul.
South Africa only managed 200 runs before they were all out. Australia then won by 281 runs with a day to spare.
The defeat was the second highest loss to Australia.
Johnson was named Man of the Match after taking 12 wickets for 127 runs.
Australia lead the 3-match series 1-0.

WHAT WENT WRONG?
Besides the dropped catches, the extras and no partnerships ...
What went wrong?
Was it the line up?
Or did the Proteas get it in their minds that they cannot win without King Kallis?
The Proteas overall performance - I'm speechless.