Close of play on Day 2, and the South African Proteas find themselves well on the back foot, after succumbing to some good spin bowling by Saeed Ajmal. The hosts find themselves 5 down with the spinner taking all 5 of those, and it leaves SA in a position where they now need to fight to stay in this test match, a situation they haven’t been in since their tour of Australia last year.

It will be an interesting 3 days, we know from the Test against Australia where we heroically survived the final day to force a draw that we have the ability to do well under pressure, but we face a whole new test this time round with our batsmen already struggling with the spin this wicket is providing, and its only day 2. Adding further worries to them is that they will have to bat last on this track, something they only have themselves to blame for after winning the toss and electing to bowl.

SA haven’t lost a Test to any team other than Australia at Newlands since 1962, a record that will take a brilliant fightback to retain. We are the best team in the world for a reason, and because of that I don’t just think we CAN still win this test, I expect it.

Matthew Nepgen

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