The 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia could be held in the winter, following the example set by Qatar last year.
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After his career-best 4 for 47 against New Zealand, JP Duminy said even though the work had been put into his bowling, there weren’t too many opportunities to improve
Firdose Moonda in Wellington16-Mar-2017
‘I’ve been getting an odd over here and there so the opportunities haven’t really been there’ – JP Duminy•Getty Images
Despite JP Duminy taking a career-best 4 for 47, he said offspinner Dane Piedt, who is arriving ahead of the Hamilton Test, should “definitely not” remain in South Africa at his expense. Instead, Duminy intends to keep working on his bowling in the hope that he will finally be able to live up to the allrounder reputation he was developing a few years ago.”It’s something that I have been working on for a period of time and unfortunately I haven’t reaped any rewards, but I guess it comes down to opportunities,” Duminy said. “If you look at recent Test matches, our seam attack coupled with Keshav (Maharaj) have been doing really well. I’ve been getting an odd over here and there so the opportunities haven’t really been there. When you look at a spinner, it’s got to be a big portion of overs that they have to bowl to get success. Today was one of those days when I got an opportunity to carry on.”Although picked for his batting alone, Duminy offered South Africa offspin from the start of his career and was often asked to play a holding role in the early years. He bowled in 11 of his first 14 Tests, once delivering as many of 24 overs – against England in Durban – and had some success. In total, Duminy took 11 wickets in that part of his career albeit at an average of 45.Things became more serious in November 2012, when Duminy was picked as the sole spinner in a South African XI to play a Test in Brisbane but tore his Achilles’ tendon in the match and was out of action for six months. On his return, he bowled with some regularity for South Africa, and delivered a minimum of 11 overs a match in the next ten Tests. Since, however, he has tapered off. He has only bowled more than 10 overs twice in 16 Tests after that and fewer than five overs on eight occasions.In Wellington, Duminy was tasked with bowling 11.3 overs and helped trigger a lower-order collapse in unlikely fashion. Six of New Zealand’s wickets fell to spin on a surface that was seamer-friendly. “It’s probably not a wicket we will think that spinners will dominate on,” he said. “The plan we had to try and get wickets was a good one – to try and bowl a wider line. There wasn’t a lot of purchase for spinners so I thought our tactics were pretty good.”South Africa had some luck – Jimmy Neesham was stumped after striding far out of his crease and BJ Watling was caught off the back pad flap – but Duminy believed that was a result of the pressure the visitors put back on New Zealand after easing off in the second session. “There were periods when they played really well and we were probably guilty of leaking a bit in the middle session. But I thought we brought it back nicely and got some crucial wickets at crucial times,” Duminy said. “There are times in the game when things need to go your way, and fortunately for us it happened that way. But I think it comes down to being consistent in a certain area and with that, things will happen for you. That sort of played out today.”Although South Africa fought back, they found themselves on the back foot after both openers were dismissed in the final period. With “something in the wicket,” Duminy expects his batting will be needed more than his bowling on the second day. “Tomorrow will be a big day in terms of where this Test match goes. There will still be a hint of swing with Southee there so we’re going to have to bat well.”
India captain Virat Kohli has said his fast bowlers’ performance in the Hyderabad Test has raised his hopes that they can succeed on foreign soil
Mohammad Isam in Hyderabad13-Feb-20173:30
We could have closed off the game a little early – Kohli
“You know, sometimes I stand in the field and think the wicket is not falling, you literally cannot do anything as a captain. You just have to accept the game is going, probably look to be more consistent with the ball and the fields that you set. Honestly it is the players that make you the captain that you become. To be very honest, anyone knows how to set fields in the ground, its just that you know, make sure you have the responsibility of keeping the energy of the team up. I look to push myself, throw myself [around], so guys know that they have to push for a wicket. I need to do that first, for the guys to show that energy. I am able to maintain that and that has been a takeaway from the games that I have been captain so far. Lot of times, you know that there is only so much that you can do as a captain.
“Before I would still be a bit of relentless with fields but now, I understand, when a pair is going for runs, I immediately go for in-out fields, no point giving them 4-5 boundaries. They might as well score 25 runs in singles, and take 15 overs to do that. That creates pressure and when you know you are bowling good balls, one ball does something you are back into the game. That’s something I have learnt and hopefully we will take it forward.”
India captain Virat Kohli has said his fast bowlers’ performance in the Hyderabad Test has raised his hopes that they can succeed on foreign soil. While their numbers during this home season haven’t been as imposing as those of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the likes of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have chipped in with incisive spells at key moments.Umesh’s spell on the third morning was described by Shakib Al Hasan as the best spell he had ever faced. Ishant picked up two wickets in the second innings while Bhuvneshwar impressed Kohli with his work with the old ball.”It is always a good thing to have good fast bowlers in the team especially in Test cricket,” Kohli said. “If you can have 3-4 seamers in your squad who are attacking bowlers and can pick you wickets at any stage during the day, then it is a bonus for any side. When we start going away from home, it is going to help us big time. The more the guys understand how to pick up wickets and how to set batsmen up, it is going to be really good for us.”Sides will know that these are not easy runs for the taking, they will have to work hard given the way our fast bowlers are bowling. It gives us more strength as a team having fast bowlers in rhythm and confidence and that’s something we always believe in doing in the team, giving our bowlers more importance and telling them they are the match-winners.”Kohli said that like Umesh in the first innings, Ishant stood apart among the bowlers during the second innings. Ishant took the key wickets of Sabbir Rahman and Mahmudullah after the sixth-wicket pair had added 51 in 18 overs.Ishant removed Sabbir with a delivery that came back in subtly; the batsman’s review of the leg-before decision was more out of hope than anything else. Soon after, he banged one in short to get Mahmudullah caught on the hook. Bangladesh’s back was broken in their quest to save the Test.Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled Mehedi Hasan with reverse-swing early on the fourth day•Associated Press
Kohli said the quality of India’s spinners ensures that the fast bowlers play a more aggressive role. He said Ishant breaking the partnership was crucial.”In the first innings it took a bit of patience for us to get wickets,” Kohli said. “I thought Umesh [Yadav], Bhuvi and Ishant Sharma were brilliant but Umesh stood out. In the second innings, all three bowled really well and Ishant stood out. I said in the post-match [presentation] that the quality of our spinners allows our fast bowlers to attack because of the way spinners bowl and contain runs, the pacers can really attack as soon as it starts reverse-swinging. I thought today Ishant’s spell was really good, bowled with pace and had to put in effort to take wickets at that stage and he took both the set batsmen out. That was really good for us.”Kohli also said Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s improvement in the last few matches has added to India’s pace bowling stocks. While Bhuvneshwar took only one wicket in the game, his spells with the old ball, particularly on the fifth day, didn’t let Bangladesh settle down for the rest of the day.”[Mohammad] Shami, Ishant [Sharma] and Umesh [Yadav], we all know. They’ve done it with the old ball many times. The way Bhuvi has bowled in the last few games he has played, with the old ball – it’s all because of his fitness levels having increased.”Having more strength in the body, he’s been able to put more pace in the ball which is key for reverse-swing. The other three guys, naturally, have more pace than him. I think Bhuvi has stepped up the game with the old ball too.”
The PCB is looking to build upon the momentum of a successful and incident-free Pakistan Super League (PSL) final in Lahore on Sunday, by hosting a T20 series in the country against a team of foreign players in September this year.It is unclear currently what the nature of the touring side will be. A senior PCB official said it would be a “commonwealth XI” but a report in the Guardian referred to a World XI.Giles Clarke, the ECB president, and head of the ICC’s Pakistan Task Force, is a driving force behind the venture. He visited Pakistan in January and was given briefings on security arrangements for visiting sides. It was his first visit to the country as head of the Pakistan Task Force and he met with senior officials of the Punjab government to assess the security arrangements. He then gave a presentation on his visit at the ICC board meeting soon after.On Monday, he congratulated PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan on the “successful staging” of the PSL final, calling it a “tremendous achievement”. Referring to the series, he said: “Very well played. We will be there in September.”According to the Guardian, the team that will visit Pakistan is expected to assemble in Dubai on September 17 before flying to Lahore for the matches on September 22, 23, 28 and 29.Among the international players to play in the PSL final were Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Chris Jordan and Morne van Wyk, who travelled in bullet-proof buses to the ground amid high security.Sammy, who captained Peshawar Zalmi to a 58-run win in the final, spoke in glowing terms about the experience.”To me it was more than just a game,” he said after the match. “When you have not been in a place you always have your doubts. You get different views, different opinions. But I spoke to Javed [Afridi, the Peshawar team owner] and Shahid Afridi and they influenced my decision to come here.”The fans here deserve to see their players playing as they haven’t seen it for quite a while. I am glad I came here. Being here felt like playing in St Lucia, playing in India or anywhere else in the world. And like I said at the toss, today I felt cricket was the winner.”
Leeds United could be set to pounce on a manager, and have been captivated by one man in particular.
What's the latest on Daniel Farke to Leeds United?
That's according to journalist Phil Hay, who took to Twitter to issue an update on the Whites' search for someone to fill their dugout vacancy. With the 49ers' takeover of the club having been completed, it seems their first port of call will be to find the man to lead them into the future.
Writing on Twitter, The Athletic correspondent claimed that Farke had "impressed" during initial discussions."
Could Daniel Farke get Leeds United promoted?
As is the way with any new manager that enters their dugout, the frame for success is to emulate Marcelo Bielsa by taking the Yorkshire outfit back to the big time.
Previously, they had waited 16 years for someone to propel them out of the Championship, and having returned there now following their recent relegation, the plan will be to avoid another lengthy absence.
It seems that this has greatly factored into the thinking of the new ownership, who have prioritised a promotion specialist in an effort to avoid the pitfalls of the previous regimes.
Farke spent four years at Norwich City, and although he may have overseen a relegation with the Canaries, few in the last decade have managed to keep them afloat in the top flight for longer than a few seasons.
The former Borussia Mönchengladbach boss, who prefers to wrap his philosophy in a 4-2-3-1 formation, has earned the bulk of his acclaim for his work in the 2020/21 campaign as the second-top scorers and second-best defence in the division.
Finishing first and losing just nine games from the 49 played all year, his 2.04 points-per-match average was more than enough to secure a comfortable promotion just one season after Leeds had done the same.
However, that wasn't the only time he secured a pathway into the top flight with the East Anglia club, having also won the Championship in 2018/19, beating the Whites to first place and automatic promotion by 11 points.
Jurgen Klopp even sought to laud the 46-year-old by claiming: "I like Daniel a lot, he's a really good guy. He's a world-class coach, and is doing a really good job."
Although his most recent venture in his homeland also resulted in a sacking, he remained aligned to the "brave, creative and easy on the eye" style that he had promised.
As a club that have been somewhat devoid of that under Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce, perhaps now this promotion specialist who knows the Championship so well could boldly lead them back to the big time.
Pep Guardiola's side limped out of the competition after dominating possession but doing little with it before being overpowered in the second half
Kalvin Phillips was given a golden opportunity to play his way back into Pep Guardiola's thoughts when Rodri got sent off against Nottingham Forest, but he did not make use of his first chance as Manchester City were outthought and outfought by Newcastle and sent crashing out of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 defeat.
Phillips summed up City's first-half display, playing lots of nice passes and keeping control but without taking any risks or trying to genuinely put Eddie Howe's side under pressure. Newcastle finally came out of the blocks after the break and played with intensity and bravery and City, especially Phillips, had little response.
It was the first time Guardiola's side have lost a match in 90 minutes since May and arguably the first match that mattered since they were beaten by Tottenham in February. All good runs must come to an end at some point, however, and now City must make their peace with the fact that there is at least one competition they won't be winning this season.
GOAL rates Man City's players from St James' Park…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Stefan Ortega (6/10):
Excellent on the ball, calmly passing out despite opponents breathing down his neck. Made the save of the first half to deny Murphy, could do little about Isak's goal.
Rico Lewis (5/10):
Culpable for the goal, not checking his surroundings when deciding to let Joelinton's cross go. Calm in possession in the first half but overpowered in the second. Came close to a late leveller with shot that just went wide.
Manuel Akanji (5/10):
Looked shaken just after Newcastle took the lead. Solid before then, and picked up the armband from Ake late on.
Josko Gvardiol (4/10):
Made a few sloppy passes, one which gifted Murphy his first-half chance, and didn't command the area well for the goal.
Nathan Ake (5/10):
Too passive in the second half.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield
Mateo Kovacic (5/10):
Helped control the first half but rarely looked like making anything happen.
Kalvin Phillips (4/10):
Did not take the chance afforded to him by Rodri's suspension. His passing was imprecise and could not fight back Newcastle's waves of pressure after the break.
Sergio Gomez (5/10):
Too ponderous in possession and hardly got forward into good positions.
Getty ImagesAttack
Oscar Bobb (7/10):
An excellent full debut. Worked so hard off the ball and looked like one of few City players capable of doing something useful with it.
Julian Alvarez (5/10):
Not his day. Spurned City's best chance of the first half and barely threatened after that.
Jack Grealish (5/10):
His first start for a month and he looked rusty and uninspired. A shot down Pope's throat was his only attacking contribution.
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Jeremy Doku (6/10):
Didn't manage to make much use of his twisting runs and speedy dribbling.
Matheus Nunes (5/10):
Got pushed around when he came on.
Phil Foden (6/10):
Gave City more purpose when he came on but couldn't really help them.
Pep Guardiola (5/10):
Set a bad tone by complaining about City's travel options before the game. Still picked a strong team but didn't go all out to get back into the game, leaving Haaland and Walker on the bench.
Nottingham Forest are interested in making a move for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat this summer, according to reports in Italy.
Nottingham transfer news – could they sign Sofyan Amrabat?
As we saw last summer, the Tricky Trees have surprising spending power, with almost an entirely new starting line-up welcomed through the door.
With that said, Amrabat remains a realistic target this summer, with there being a suggestion that both Forest and West Ham United will battle for the midfielder's signature.
TuttoMercato's Giacomo Lacobellis also reported that the only two clubs willing to match the current asking price of £30m are Newcastle United and Liverpool, however.
The Premier League interest comes as no shock after Amrabat impressed many at the World Cup with Morocco, where, at one stage, he had won possession more than any other player at the tournament.
It remains to be seen where the Viola “monster” – as once lauded by journalist Carlo Garganese – ends up this summer, with a number of clubs interested.
Would Sofyan Amrabat suit Nottingham Forest?
If you look at Gibbs-White, he is a player with flair; a player with the ability to create. And he needs the freedom to express his best traits.
That's where Amrabat could be the perfect player to form an exciting partnership, should Forest win the race to sign the Fiorentina star.
Where Gibbs-White is an attack-minded player, as proven by his impressive 16 goal involvements in the Premier League last season, the 26-year-old machine has the ability to play the role out of the spotlight, providing the stage for players of Gibbs-White's ilk to perform.
The World Cup showcased that very ability for all to see, so much so that a role often played out of the spotlight was highlighted several times.
Against Spain, in particular, Forest fans got a preview of the player they have been linked with, as Amrabat made the most tackles in the game, as well as making nine ball recoveries, winning seven ground duels, and completing 25 passes.
It was an all-round display of dominance against the likes of Gavi and Sergio Busquets. Speaking about Amrabat's World Cup performance, Alan Shearer praised Amrabat, saying (via Liverpool Echo):
"He really enjoys that and he’s really good at that – ‘get off the ball, I’m having it’ – and he’s setting his team forward. He’s been key.
"He does that, he protects, he can get out there and help his full-backs, and that’s what he’s in that role to do – to stop, and be a spoiler – he’s excellent at it. Then he drives forward and they’re on their way. He’s been magnificent, he really has.
"I think he ran the game at times tonight, it was incredible, just how deep the French were in the second half.
"And he was driving at them, and the main reason they were so deep was because of his energy and the way he just cajoled his entire team and cajoled the entire nation."
Compared to Forest's current options in similar roles, too, the Morocco international stands out once more. According to FBref, Amrabat has better a pass completion and makes more tackles and interceptions per 90 when compared with Steve Cooper's current options in Danilo and Remo Freuler.
His key tackling and interception attributes are particularly important, as this is the work that will win the ball back and distribute the ball quicker to the attack-minded Gibbs-White – something current options have done worse than transfer target Amrabat.
If Forest can secure the services of the midfielder, then Cooper will have a significantly improved option in the middle of the park and one that will only help the England U21 thrive even more at the City Ground.
An update has emerged on Burnley and their efforts to improve their defensive options in the summer transfer window…
What's the latest on Cody Drameh to Burnley?
Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that the Clarets are in talks with Leeds United over a deal to sign right-back Cody Drameh ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
Vincent Kompany is eyeing a swoop to bring the defender, who is interested in joining the newly-promoted side, to Turf Moor and is still trying to snap him up after having an offer turned down.
The reporter revealed:
"#BurnleyFC pushing for Cody #Drameh ! A first offer has been refused by #LeedsUnited who's waiting for an improved offer from the newly promoted. Discussions continue to find an agreement. Player keen on the move."
How would Cody Drameh fit in at Burnley?
He is a right-back by trade and his form on loan at playoff winners Luton Town in the Championship in the season just gone suggests that the talented enforcer could be an excellent partner for Manuel Benson down the right flank.
In 2022/23, Drameh averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 across 16 appearances for the Hatters in the second half of the campaign and made 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game for his side.
Over the last 365 days, the English dynamo ranks in the top 3% or higher of players in his position in the Men's 'Next Eight Competitions' for tackles and blocks made respectively per 90. This shows that the terrific youngster excels at making defensive interventions to cut out opposition attacks when they threaten his goal.
Benson, on the other hand, is a winger who does not make a huge defensive contribution to his team.
Amongst his positional peers in the Men's 'Next Eight Competitions' over the last 365 days, the Belgian forward is in the bottom 17% or lower for tackles, blocks, clearances, aerial battles won, and interceptions per 90.
He does, however, rank in the top 3% for progressive carries and non-penalty goals per 90 and ended the Championship season with 11 goals in 33 appearances for the Clarets, meaning he represents an ideal outlet for the aforementioned target.
Therefore, the £4.4k-per-week Leeds ace, who was once hailed as a "Duracell bunny" by former boss Steve Morison, could be the perfect right-back to play behind Benson as his outstanding defensive qualities could allow the winger to focus on what he does best in the final third.
The current Burnley magician would be able to focus on making a big impact at the top end of the pitch to win the team vital points in the Premier League and Drameh could cover for him on the defensive end with his ability to make consistent interventions.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to striker Moussa Dembele as Julen Lopetegui aims to strengthen his squad on a budget this summer.
This latest link could be a perfect signing at Molineux, with the Frenchman potentially capable of solving the side’s goalscoring woes while allowing the Old Gold to remain tight to financial burdens, with no fee required.
What’s the latest on Moussa Dembele to Wolves?
As reported by Express and Star, Wolves are one of the clubs interested in Olympique Lyonnais striker Dembele.
The forward is set to become a free agent, with the report claiming that the Midlands club are ‘monitoring’ his movements.
It’s expected that Wolves will face ‘considerable competition’ in the race for the 26-year-old’s signature, with a host of unnamed clubs eyeing the talisman.
What could Moussa Dembele offer to Wolves?
Lauded as an “unbelievable talent” by former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie, the Frenchman was once a loved figure in Glasgow.
In a total of 94 appearances for the Hoops, Dembele contributed to 69 goals and assists – assisting 18 and scoring an impressive 51 goals (via Transfermarkt), cementing himself as a worthy candidate to lead the line.
His efforts in Scotland saw him snapped up by Lyon, where the 26-year-old has netted 70 goals in 172 appearances, and with his contract expiring this summer, there are rumours that the forward could continue his scoring streak at Molineux.
Lopetegui is crying out for a goalscorer, which, when rewinding a few seasons, could not have been predicted considering the form of Raul Jimenez in leading the line for Wolves.
The Mexican marked the Midlands club’s return to the Premier League in style, registering 21 goal contributions in his debut campaign, scoring 13 and assisting eight in a streak that didn’t expire past one glory term.
It was a recurring feat in the 2019/20 season, where he scored an improved 17 goals and recorded six assists, in strike play that was critical to his club’s success, as highlighted through their consecutive 7th-place finishes.
When his form dipped, so did his team’s, as shown by Wolves not finishing in the top 10 since those campaigns that displayed his talents in front of goal.
Now, Lopetegui must get the Old Gold back to their old ways, which he could achieve by signing a striker as similarly competent as Jimenez in his glory days.
In the Mexican’s best-scoring Premier League season of 2019/20, he averaged a scoring frequency of a goal every 191 minutes, with Dembele averaging a goal every 105 minutes last campaign in Ligue 1, in which he netted 21 goals in 30 appearances.
Therefore, it could easily be argued that the Frenchman has the capabilities to reinstall the potency in front of goal at Molineux that was once displayed by Jimenez, in a move that could give Lopetegui the opportunity to take Wolves up the table in his first full season in charge.
New Zealand’s discipline gave them four South African wickets on a pitch that was rather seamer-friendly on a day marred by rain
The Report by Alagappan Muthu24-Mar-2017
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:30
Moonda: New Zealand let South Africa off the hook again
Two sessions is often too little time to divine where a Test match would go and such was the case in the decider in Hamilton. New Zealand took the early lead when they took two wickets in the first three overs. South Africa would still have felt comfortable with Hashim Amla sticking around and making his 32nd half-century. So enthralling was the action that rain came by no less than three times in five hours and eventually just didn’t leave. So a score of 123 for 4, achieved an hour after lunch, remained until stumps.It was typical that a day when the bowlers were having more fun than the batsmen had to be cut short. Helping them was a pitch that bore a strange look, with tufts of grass in some areas – 11 to 12 mm long according to the host broadcaster’s pitch report – and completely bare patches right alongside them. That meant the same delivery, off a similar pace and length, behaved in different ways after pitching. It sped up when it hit the green bits and slowed down off the bald areas.Amla negotiated the challenge well, batting outside his crease, and playing as late as he could. His 50 included a couple of scorching straight drives, and a picture perfect back-foot punch through the covers that indicated he was settling in for the long haul. But then came the most dramatic ball of the day, not because it did anything extravagant, simply that it made a set batsman play all around it and then shattered the middle stump.At that time South Africa were 97 for 4, with Faf du Plessis forced to sit through a disdainful examination of technique by Neil Wagner. Again, there was nothing spectacular happening. The left-arm quick was simply testing the South African captain’s judgment of off stump, and occasionally sneaking in the bouncer to catch him off guard.New Zealand’s entire day was built around bowling like that, within themselves. The line was wicket-to-wicket to exploit the swing in the air and the surface ensured there was that little bit of seam movement. The batsmen knew they were high atop a bed of nails. They also knew it could be avoided. Easily, if they had enough balls to leave. If only Matt Henry and Colin de Grandhomme didn’t take such despicable delight in pushing people over the edge.The first to go was debutant Theunis de Bruyn. For most of his 36 first-class matches, he had been a middle-order player. On Test debut he was thrust up to open and couldn’t quite deal with the challenge. Fishing at a back of a length delivery from Henry, far enough outside off to be left, he nicked off to second slip.Hashim Amla was bowled playing around a straight ball•AFP
Then de Grandhomme managed the inverse sucker ball from around the wicket. It pitched on a length and was wide enough to make Dean Elgar think of no reason to play it. Moments later, he was staring at a flattened off stump. The batsman who had spent 772 minutes canoodling the crease in Dunedin was gone inside 15 in Hamilton.Henry, charging in for his second spell, toppled JP Duminy for 20 with a bouncer just before lunch. The batsman went for an ill-advised hook – what with the ball climing up towards his badge and its line on middle stump not affording him any chance to put power on the shot – and was caught on the long leg boundary. It was an awkward dismissal – both in terms of timing and for the fact that a batsman at No. 4 in a Test side had fallen to the short ball on what has largely been a slow pitch.So barring the weather, Kane Williamson did not have too many reasons to feel displeased. Things did begin in a fashion that might make him question if his fairy godmother was shirking her duties. He had lost Tim Southee and Trent Boult on the eve of the match and so had to lead a New Zealand side without both its spearheads for the first time in five years. On the day of the match, he lost his eighth toss in a row – so long were those odds that du Plessis buckled over in laughter when he had called tails and the coin came down as he had bid. But it appeared Williamson’s bad luck had reached a limit right there, meaning not much of it could seep into the actual Test, one they have to win to level the series. He could use some DRS tips though.In the 11th over, Wagner’s first, Duminy was pinned in front of middle stump. Umpire Bruce Oxenford thought it would have slipped down leg, but replays indicated it would have crashed into the target. In the 18th, they opted to review another lbw appeal that was struck down on the field and were told umpire Rod Tucker had good reason to because it had pitched outside leg. The worst, though, was yet to come. In the 29th over, Williamson was persuaded to tee it up for another lbw only to find the ball had smashed into the middle of the bat. Predictably, when DRS was no longer an option, Wagner produced a peach that took du Plessis’ outside edge through to the wicketkeeper and the umpire didn’t notice.With rain forecast on all five days of the Test – Sunday shapes as the worst to be affected – South Africa have not fallen too far behind. They have a 1-0 lead and could pocket another trophy on the road with even a drawn result.