Faf du Plessis Responds To Ball Tampering Criticism With Century And A Bold Declaration
He hit 118 not out in 164 balls.
Under-fire for his involvement in ball-tampering controversy that rocked the world of cricket recently, South African's Faf du Plessis answered back to his critics by becoming the first captain to score a century in a pink-ball Test today.
AFP
Leading the side in the absence of injured AB de Villiers, Du Plessis lost 100 per cent of his match fee after he was found guilty of ball tampering in the second Test against Australia at Hobart. Despite the ICC's decision, Du Plessis put his foot down and said that he is still 'innocent' in the matter.
However, all of that can be put to rest as he scored a superb century at the Adelaide Oval on the first day of the third and final Test against Australia, who are staring at a first series whitewash at home in a long long time.
AFP
Almost everything went right for Du Plessis. From winning the toss to rescuing the side from a precarious 44 for 3 in the first session, to scoring his sixth Test century, to ultimately effecting a bold declaration with 12 overs to bowl at the inexperience Aussie batting line-up.
It was Du Plessis' 118 from 164 balls that stole the limelight on a picturesque setting at the Oval. He struck 17 fours, each of them with an attitude of 'let my bat do the talking'.
AFP
For Du Plessis, it was like homecoming at the venue where he scored his first Test fifty and hundred, that too on debut, four years back. He was coming off a rough patch with the bat in this series with scores of just 37, 32 and 7 in the three previous innings in two games.
Du Plessis' ton got a lot of praise from twitter users and former cricketers.
Forget the Mints .. This has been an fantastic innings by @faf1307 .. He should Skipper full time .. #AUSvSA
¡ª Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 24, 2016
What an innings of character from @faf1307, after the crowd booing him and enduring a week of lollygate. #ausvsa
¡ª Grant Elliott (@grantelliottnz) November 24, 2016
Quality innings from @faf1307 especially given his teams position today, plus the controversy leading into the test. #AUSvSA
¡ª Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) November 24, 2016
If life puts u in hard situation??
¡ª Virat Kohli Freak (@ImSSuresh) November 24, 2016
Face it like @faf1307 #Duplessis ??
First Captain to score a century in Pink Ball Test Cricket??#ausvsa
Only losing cricket teams (and their journalists) bellyache on endlessly about so-called ball tampering #AUSvSA @faf1307
¡ª Allison MacDonald (@AllyMacDee) November 24, 2016
No weapon formed against @faf1307 shall prosper.. #AUSvSA #SScricket #ProteaFire #Protealove
¡ª Wendy (@Monalisamawe) November 24, 2016
Faf du Plessis has responded with a gritty hundred despite all the controversies & chaos regarding his #mintgate. He's a leader. #AusvSA
¡ª Faisal Caesar (@faisalyorker) November 24, 2016
And not just his hundred, Du Plessis' decision to declare South Africa's first innings was termed as a bold move.
Great knock by #FafduPlessis n bold decision to declare.
¡ª Majid rizvi (@Majidrizvi5) November 24, 2016
While coming on crease crowd was booing and while leaving standing ovation #AUSvSA
It's on now!! well played @faf1307 smart cricket ?? ??
¡ª Blue-Blood (@liwa_a) November 24, 2016
Will the SA bowlers haunt our batsmen again? Entertaining hour of cricket..#ausvsa
Great captaincy from @faf1307 ... A sporting declaration just after playing a brilliant knock. Take that haters... #AUSvSA #PinkBallTest
¡ª 'Intolerant' Indian (@IntolerantAadmi) November 24, 2016
And that declaration is aggressive as his century. @faf1307 hasn't put a foot wrong yet in this Test #AusvSA
¡ª Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) November 24, 2016
At the end of first day's play, Australia are tralining South Africa's 259 for nine declared at 14 for no loss with Usman Khawaja and debutant Matt Renshaw at the crease.
