Anrich Nortje defends Proteas' Day 2 collapse: We bat until 11

By Chad Klate
2nd March 2023

Proteas paceman Anrich Nortje believes there is no reason to panic despite the top-order collapse in their second innings on Day 2 of the first Test against West Indies yesterday.

South Africa closed the day on 49-4, following the loss of Dean Elgar, Tony de Zorzi, skipper Temba Bavuma and Keegan Petersen inside just 8.1 overs.

This was after bowling the Islanders out for 212, with Nortje enjoying an impressive bowling spell to claim his fourth Test "fifer" while conceding just 36 runs in his 16 overs.

With a lead of 179, the 29-year-old is confident they still have enough depth to put on a respectable target to defend going into day three.

"Ja, so hopefully [today] we can come up with a partnership – I think that's obviously going to be crucial for us to try and get a partnership," said Nortje.

"We bat 'til 11 – I'm at 11, so we go all the way down [laughs]... No, I'm joking, but ja, hopefully, we can get one or two partnerships and get a decent lead.

"We'll take anything, obviously, runs on the board is runs on the board, but hopefully we can come out... And the middle order has been doing well, whether it's domestically in leagues or wherever it is.

"So, hopefully, they can come out and stamp their authority, and show why they're here. That's going to be crucial for us to show what they can do."

Nortje endured a tough opening two spells, claiming just one wicket while conceding 30 runs but, after some prompting from a small crowd on the boundary, he later returned to claim a double-wicket maiden before completing his five-wicket haul.

"Yeah, it was nice having a little bit of crowd noise at the back, but I think most of the time there was something happening with the ball, and it was just [about] trying to use that,"

"The wind was blowing across the right-handers as well, so all of those factors [played a role]. KG [Rabada] bowled well before that as well, I think in his four overs, he did really well from that end and then I just tried to capitalise on what he did and take that momentum further.

"So, just especially against the right-handers, there was a little bit of movement and a little bit of a breeze, and that played in our favour."