CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: South Africa off-spinner Simon Harmer created history with a fine batting performance in the second Test against Australia. He played a powerful innings of 82 runs to break an 18-year-old record held by South Africa’s legendary fast bowler Dale Steyn. Harmer’s innings strengthened a South African side under pressure and played a key role in changing the course of the match.
Harmer made history on October 20, the third day of the second Test being played at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, scoring 82 runs off 91 balls. His innings included 10 fours and one six. With this, he became the South African batter with the highest individual score in Test cricket against Australia while batting at No. 9 or lower. The record was previously held by Dale Steyn, who scored 76 in the Melbourne Test in 2008. Harmer went past that mark with his 82-run knock.
In South Africa’s first innings, the team was in trouble at one stage after losing six wickets for 110 runs. Captain Temba Bavuma and Marco Jansen then steadied the innings with a 132-run stand for the seventh wicket. Jansen scored 85. After Jansen’s dismissal, Harmer joined Bavuma at the crease. The pair added a superb 183 runs for the eighth wicket, which became South Africa’s biggest eighth-wicket partnership in Test cricket. Bavuma also batted brilliantly, scoring 179 off 334 balls, with 18 fours and one six.
Riding on the batters’ strong performances, South Africa declared their first innings at 425 for nine. Harmer missed out on his maiden Test century, bowled by Marnus Labuschagne for 82. Bavuma was also dismissed later. South Africa, who had lost the first Test by 214 runs, made a strong comeback in the second match. By the end of the day’s play, Australia had scored three runs for the loss of one wicket in their second innings. The batting of Bavuma, Jansen and Harmer proved decisive in South Africa’s fightback.
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