He reminded me of Mitchell Johnson - Du Plessis lauds Olivier's match-winning efforts

His match figures of 11-96 helped South Africa overcome Pakistan and Duanne Olivier was compared to Mitchell Johnson by Faf du Plessis.

Published : Dec 28, 2018 19:58 IST

South Africa seamer Duanne Olivier
South Africa seamer Duanne Olivier
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South Africa seamer Duanne Olivier

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis compared Duanne Olivier's man-of-the-match performance against Pakistan in Centurion to a similar effort by Mitchell Johnson on the same ground four years ago.

Olivier, selected in the Proteas XI for the first Test after Vernon Philander missed out with a fractured finger, returned match figures of 11-96 as the host secured victory by six wickets inside three days.

Report|  Amla and Elgar survive early scares as South Africa claims series lead

The seamer, having taken a career-best 6-37 in the first innings, followed that up with a prolonged spell of short-pitched bowling in the second and was rewarded with 5-59 as South Africa were set 149 to win.

Hashim Amla's unbeaten 63 and Dean Elgar's 50 did the bulk of the work as the home side took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and Olivier's display reminded Du Plessis of former Australia left-arm quick Johnson, who took 12 wickets in a match-winning effort at SuperSport Park in February 2014.

"That was probably the match-turning moment," said Du Plessis of the period which saw Pakistan collapse from 101-1 in its second innings to 190 all out on day two.

"They got themselves in a position where we needed wickets. That period was an incredible effort by the bowlers, especially Duanne.

"To bowl short for that long takes a lot out of the body, as a captain it was great to have and it reminded me of Mitchell Johnson a few years ago, very uncomfortable to face."

When asked if Philander would return in Olivier's place for the second Test at Newlands starting on January 3, Du Plessis replied: "Vernon in Cape Town is like peanut butter and syrup. I expect him to come back, but Duanne has made a nice selection headache for us."

Chance goes begging

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, meanwhile, hopes to see seamer Mohammad Abbas recover from a shoulder injury in time for the next Test.

"Yes hopefully he'll be back for the second Test match," Sarfraz said in the on-field presentation.

"We're very disappointed. We had a good opportunity and lost too many wickets in that session."

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