http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 de Villiers walks off on 99 after taking a word from Sri Lankan fielder – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Frank-Dimuth-Madushanka-Karunaratne-c57388.
The South African cricketer, who was one run short of what would have been his 13th hundred in Test cricket, sliced a shot at backward point, where the substitute fielder Karunaratne was placed.
The ball seemed to dive on the fielder but Karunaratne claimed that he had caught it cleanly. Umpires were not sure and before they could refer the case to Television Umpire, De Villiers started walking. The batsman inquired from
the fielder about the catch and once he was assured never looked back.
Satisfied with his decision of believing the fielder, De Villiers said, “I believe in asking the fielder. My initial reaction was that I was hoping the umpires would go upstairs to review it. But http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JH-Kallis-c1692 always asks the
fielder. (Umpire) Rod (Tucker) asked me if I wanted to go upstairs and I said, 'no, let's ask the fielder'. I asked him, he said he caught it and I walked off. That was the end of it.”
De Villiers states that he hasn’t watched the replay of the catch, as nothing is going to come out of it. The 27-year-old batsman, who has featured in 68 Test matches for the Proteas, blamed himself for missing a chance to increase
his tally of Test centuries.
The right-hander was cross with himself for playing a rash shot, as he could have guided the ball anywhere he would have liked. De Villiers said, “It’s past tense now, it's history. I still back the fielder. If he said he caught
it, then that's it. It was a poor shot. I should have put it in the gap. The ball was there to be put away. It's my own fault.”
Though, De Villiers missed out on a ton but this knock of his helped the South African side strengthen their grip of the match. The hosts now have a healthy lead of 209 runs in their first innings. Day three of Centurion Test resumes
on Saturday, December 17 with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 389 for the loss of nine wickets.
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