The trees along the eastern boundary, abutting Park Drive, were alive with kinetic energy brought by what was now way beyond a breeze. It was the batting wind. Or the westerly from the hinterland that whips across the ground diagonally, denying the bowlers the help of the moisture the easterly brings from the Indian Ocean.
Consider that South Africa were 12/2 after Sunday’s first day was limited by rain to 74 deliveries, and crashed to 97/5 in the 42.4 overs bowled on Monday. And that they were 110/6 before two century stands — Temba Bavuma the fulcrum, Jansen and Simon Harmer the levers — took them to a declaration of 425/9. Jansen’s 100-ball 85, almost two-third of them hammered in fours and sixes, was the jolt forward his team needed.
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