(Image Source: Star Sports)
[Saba Sports News] In a thrilling encounter at Newlands, Cape Town, India faced South Africa in the second Test. India’s initial series loss dashed their hopes of a Test series victory on South African soil. However, the match held special significance as it marked the farewell of South African batting legend Dean Elgar from Test cricket.
During this emotional occasion, Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma presented Elgar with signed jerseys as a token of respect and admiration for the departing icon.
Elgar, leading the Proteas in Temba Bavuma’s absence, contributed 12 runs in his final Test innings. His earlier innings in the first match amounted to four runs as the hosts struggled, collapsing for just 55 runs. Elgar’s brief innings concluded an illustrious career, celebrated for his remarkable achievements in cricket.
In the series opener in Centurion, Elgar had left a lasting mark by scoring a sensational century, smashing 185 runs off 287 deliveries. This monumental knock was his highest score against India in Test cricket, surpassing his previous best of 160 in Vizag in 2019. His 185-run innings remained the second-highest score of his Test career, trailing only behind his 199 against Bangladesh in 2017.
Dean Elgar’s name is etched in the record books as he bids farewell to the Test arena. He finishes as South Africa’s eighth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, accumulating 5,347 runs from 86 Tests at an impressive average of 37.92. His illustrious career includes 14 centuries and 23 fifties, cementing his place among cricket’s batting elites.
The seasoned campaigner also achieved the milestone of surpassing 1,000 Test runs against India during the 2nd Test in Cape Town, joining Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla as the third Proteas batter to achieve this feat. Elgar’s tally against India stands at 1,012 runs from 15 Tests, maintaining an average of 40.48, with six scores of 50 or more, including two centuries.