Dean Elgar slams South Africa’s batting after defeat in 2nd Test towards England – First-innings batting allow us to down

ENG vs SA, 2nd Test: South Africa skipper Dean Elgar was disillusioned together with his group’s batting within the second match of the sequence at Old Trafford in Manchester.

First-innings batting allow us to down: Elgar slams SA’s batting after defeat in 2nd Test vs ENG. Courtesy: AP

HIGHLIGHTSSouth Africa misplaced the Manchester Test by an innings and 85 runsSouth Africa have been bowled out for 151 of their first inningsThe last Test will begin on September 8

South Africa skipper Dean Elgar admitted that his group didn’t carry out effectively with the bat within the second Test towards England at Old Trafford in Manchester. On Saturday, August 27, the Proteas misplaced the match by an innings and 85 runs as England drew stage within the three-match sequence.

Elgar was clear-cut in saying that the batting debacle within the first innings let South Africa down huge time. After opting to bat first, the Proteas have been bowled out for 151. Barring Kagiso Rabada, who scored 36, not one of the South African batters stepped up.

“We didn’t bat particularly well. The ball moved around, but this is Test cricket and we have to deal with it,” Elgar was quoted as saying on BBC Sports.

Earlier, Kagiso Rabada defended South Africa’s decision of batting first, saying that the pitch had shown signs of slowing down. He had also said that the visitors added off-spinner Simon Harmer to the playing XI, keeping in mind the playing conditions.

Elgar also agreed that the track deteriorated with time, but also slammed his team’s poor batting performance at Old Trafford.

“The pitch did deteriorate as we thought it would, but our first-innings batting let us down,” he added.

James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who made his Test comeback, wreaked havoc within the second innings. Both picked up a mixed tally of seven wickets as South Africa crumbled for 179 in 85.1 overs of their second innings.

The third and last Test of the sequence is scheduled to get underway on Thursday, September 8 at Kennington Oval in London.

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