Tristan Stubbs Shines with Test Century, Embracing the Challenge of Red-Ball Cricket

Tristan Stubbs, known for his explosive Twenty20 batting, took a momentous step into red-ball cricket by scoring a solid Test century against Sri Lanka on Friday. The South African batsman, alongside captain Temba Bavuma, built a dominant partnership that put South Africa in a commanding position on the third day of the first Test at Kingsmead.

Stubbs, who scored 122 runs, and Bavuma (113) combined for a remarkable 249-run stand, leading South Africa to declare their second innings at 366 for five. With Sri Lanka set a daunting target of 516 runs to win, they ended the day on 103 for five.

While Stubbs’ big-hitting style has made him a sought-after player in T20 leagues, including a $1.15 million contract with Delhi Capitals for the upcoming Indian Premier League season, the 24-year-old expressed his deep enjoyment of red-ball cricket.

“I prefer the red ball game,” Stubbs said on SuperSport. “You can bat for long periods, and it’s a lot more of a mental game. It’s definitely a challenge, but I love it and am constantly learning.”

TRISTAN STUBBS !!!

It’s a 2nd test match century in as many matches!! First in SA!He’s really taking to test cricket like a duck to water! One can just see the talent he oozes!! Playing with such maturity & responsibility! He’s going to make a lot more test 100’s!!#SAvSL pic.twitter.com/w3fN31IBHq

— Lawrence Bailey (@LawrenceBailey0) November 29, 2024

Stubbs, who has recently found his ability to hit the ball further since gaining strength during the Covid pandemic, admitted his journey in Test cricket was still evolving. “I’ve played very little red-ball cricket, so I’m always learning,” he said.

Bavuma shared Stubbs’ sentiment, acknowledging the difficulties of batting in tough conditions. He was also personally pleased with his performance, having scored his third Test century in 60 matches. “Hundreds are a currency,” Bavuma remarked, stressing the mental boost that comes with a big score. “We are starting to believe that someone can score a hundred in every innings.”

On the field, South Africa’s fast bowlers dominated Sri Lanka once again. After a disastrous first-innings score of just 42, Sri Lanka’s batsmen struggled to handle the pace and pressure. Dimuth Karunaratne was dismissed cheaply for the second time in the match by Kagiso Rabada, while Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews, and Kamindu Mendis also fell to the South African bowlers.

With the match now well in South Africa’s grasp, the combination of strong batting and aggressive bowling positions them for a dominant victory, led by Stubbs’ and Bavuma’s match-winning performances.

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