Birthday special: Dean Elgar – Three best knocks by the South African stalwart
Dean Elgar is an important cog in the South African batting line-up. In a Test career that has lasted almost a decade, the left-hander has scored 4260 runs in the whites and has scored his runs at an average of close to 40. Elgar has also scored 13 hundreds and 16 fifties in his career as well. In fact, Elgar is the 9th highest run-scorer for South Africa in Test match cricket. He was recently named the captain of the side in the longest format of the game.
With the South African turning 35 today, let us take a look at the top 3 knocks from Elgar in Test match cricket.
3) 199 vs Bangladesh
Dean Elgar (199) and Aiden Markram (97) are the first pair of openers to get out in 190s and 90s in a Test innings. #SAvBAN
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 29, 2017
Dean Elgar’s highest score in Test match cricket came in the year 2017. In the Test match that took place between the Proteas and the Bangladeshi Tigers, Elgar scored 199 off 388 deliveries. Elgar’s partnership of 215 runs for the 2nd wicket alongside Hashim Amla helped South Africa post a total of 496/3 in the first innings. Elgar’s mammoth knock helped South Africa thrash Bangladesh by 333 runs.
2) 140 vs New Zealand
Dean Elgar single-handedly scored a masterly 140 against New Zealand in seaming and swinging conditions at Dunedin. He scored 140 out of the 308 runs that the Proteas scored in their first innings. Elgar’s innings was studded with 24 glorious hits to the fence. In fact, after Elgar, the next highest run-scorer was Temba Bavuma, who scored 64. Rain played spoilsport on the final day and the match ended in a draw.
1) 141* vs Australia
Dean Elgar not out on 141, but South Africa have been bowled out for 311 on day two in Cape Town.#SAvAUS Scorecard ⬇️ https://t.co/cEz7TiKnuy pic.twitter.com/E58tIUIpMT
— ICC (@ICC) March 23, 2018
The best knock of Dean Elgar’s career came against the Australian side in March 2018. The opening batsman scored a classic 284-ball 141* to help South Africa post a total of 311 runs on the board. Australia replied with a total of 255. The Proteas scored 373 in their second innings and set Australia an unlikely target of 430 for victory. Australia wilted during the run chase and were bowled out for 107, handing South Africa a mammoth 322-run victory.
