By Ken Borland
CENTURION, South Africa Dec 16 (Reuters) – AB de
Villiers fell one short of a 13th test century on Friday after
helping South Africa into a commanding position on the second
day of the first test against Sri Lanka at Centurion.
De Villiers scored 99 as South Africa, replying to Sri
Lanka’s first innings of 180, amassed 389 for nine for a lead of
209 runs.
The 27-year-old drove seamer Thisara Perera straight down
the ground for four to go to 99. But, much to his annoyance, he
cut the next delivery, which was short and wide, low to backward
point where substitute Dimuth Karunaratne dived forward to take
the catch.
“I was hoping the umpires would go upstairs on the catch,
but when Rod Tucker asked me if I wanted to refer it, I said
‘no, just ask the fielder’,” De Villiers told reporters.
“I back the fielder, if he says he’s caught it then that’s
fine with me.
“It was a poor shot I played, it should have been in the gap
but I didn’t do that and that’s the end of the story.”
Sri Lanka batting coach Marvan Atapattu praised the
batsman’s gesture.
“You don’t see that very often, especially in the 90s, it
was a nice gesture,” he said. “The fielder was pretty sure it
was a clean catch. I, myself, looking from the outside, was not
that sure. Personally, I wouldn’t have done what AB did, to be
very honest.”
Continued…
