2024-02-15 04:13:12
Do you remember Moin Ali? He retired from Test cricket in 2021. But due to the need of the team, he returned again before the Ashes series in 2023. But Dan Piedt’s story beats Moeen Ali’s.
The South African spinner last played a Test in 2019. He then retired from all forms of cricket in 2020. which runs in the United States. He had plans to play for them there. However, he played for the Washington Freedom first in minor league cricket and then in the first-ever franchise league ‘Major League Cricket’ in 2023.
South African cricket fans forgot him. But his fate changed in 2024. No star South African cricketer agreed to play in New Zealand tour due to SA-20. Cricket South Africa was then forced to form a team with young people.
Before this situation Piedot received a small message from South African coach Shukri Konrad. Of course, he couldn’t believe what he was reading when he got the text. Because he is still in North Carolina! He did not think twice when he got the chance to represent the national team again from the coach. But before that he had to prove himself in domestic cricket. By proving that, he got a call to visit South Africa.
However, the XI did not get a chance in the first test. But in the second test he got a chance and bowled the best of his career. He bowled 32.3 overs and took 5 wickets with 89 runs including 5 maidens. His whirlwind spell bowled out New Zealand for 211 runs. South Africa, who were all out for 242 runs in the first innings, got a lead of 31 runs.
Returning to Tests after four years, he first took the wicket of Tom Latham. Then bring back Kane Williamson. Set batsmen then took the wickets of Glenn Phillips, Will Young and Neil Wagner.
New Zealand’s Williamson scored 43 runs with the bat. Besides, Latham 40, Young 36, Wagner 33 and Rachin Ravindra scored 29 runs. Dan Patterson took 3 wickets without Piedt. Shepo Moreki took 1 wicket.
Before that, the visitors ended the first day with 220 runs after losing 6 wickets. They lost the last four wickets to add 22 more runs to the team’s collection on the second day on Wednesday. Ruan de Swardt, who was unbeaten on 55 runs the previous day, was dismissed for 64 runs today. And Sean Von Berg, who was unbeaten on 34 runs, was out for 38 runs. After that, Piedt got out for 4 runs and if Moreki remained unbeaten for 4 runs, the Proteas’ innings went up to 242 runs.
William O’Rourke of Kiwis took 4 wickets with the ball. Rachin took 3 wickets. Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Wagner took 1 wicket each.