5 defiant, match-saving innings of this decade

#2 Faf du Plessis – 110* vs Australia (Adelaide, 2012)

Faf du Plessis's remarkable innings on debut frustrated Australia no end

What makes this spectacular act of defiance by Faf du Plessis even more amazing is the fact that it came in his debut match.

The pitch at Adelaide is usually flat and was even more so for this match. After having the upper hand during most of the match, Australia declared their second innings after giving South Africa a target of 430.

Australia had lost James Pattinson due to injury for the second innings but they still put the Proteas in a hopeless situation when the fourth wicket fell at the score of 45. The biggest threat for the South Africans was Nathan Lyon on a pitch expected to deteriorate.

But Faf, considered a one-day specialist till then, went on to defy the Australians in a manner that left everyone awe-struck.

He paired up with AB de Villiers to form a partnership that lasted 68 overs. But with 55 overs left in the match, Australia were still the favourites. Du Plessis, though, was undeterred and remained unbeaten till the end, having batted for more than 7-and-a-half hours and 376 balls, to see his team to safety.

The visitors scored at a snail’s pace but with runs not being the main concern, they weren't bothered. They kept blocking and in the end, left Australia’s two seamers – Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus – so exhausted that they missed the next game.