AB de Villiers wicket key in South Africa's collapse, says Pat Cummins

Australia’s speedster Pat Cummins brought a change in Australia’s fortunes on the first day of the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town. Cummins picked four quick wickets as he left the hosts reeling.

Meanwhile, South Africa were cruising at 220 for two just after tea when Cummins returned to the attack for a magnificent spell of bowling. He picked up four wickets for 12 runs, including the key scalp of AB de Villiers (64). Further, the wicket of de Villiers triggered a South African collapse.

Proteas ended the day on 266 for eight after dominating the first two sessions.

The AB’s wicket was the big one: Pat Cummins

Cummins admitted of being ordinary in his first 10 overs and in the later-half, the ball started swinging. He also admitted the wicket of AB was crucial which brought them back in the game.

“I felt like I was pretty ordinary in my first 10 overs and I was worried I was going to be a passenger out there,” Cummins told reporters.

“But the ball started swinging and we felt if we could get one wicket, two or three would follow. I bowled a half-volley that AB hit to mid-off and after that, I felt I had my rhythm,” he remarked.

“Wickets always make the legs feel a little bit fresher. The AB wicket was the big one, once he was out a new batsman starting his innings against a reversing ball. it’s pretty hard. It got us right into the game,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cummins who returned with four for 64 feels that the visitors are on top right now as they seek to take the lead in the four-match series.

It is the beauty of Test Cricket:

However, South African opener Dean Elgar struck an unbeaten 121 and will resume the day with Kagiso Rabada. The southpaw admitted that the wicket is by no means flat and the old ball was reversing.

“That’s the nature of test cricket, for four hours a team can be dominant and for two hours the other team can bounce back and also be dominant and put the test in the balance,” Elgar said.

“The wicket is by no means flat, it might have looked like it when AB was batting, but he does that. They (Australia) identified areas they could exploit. The older ball, which was reversing, makes batting trickier,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Elgar also admitted that he enjoyed the chatter from the Australian players. South Africa will resume the day at 266 for 8 with Elgar at 121 and Rabada at 6.

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