South Africa vs Australia 2018, 1st Test, Day 2: 5 things we learnt from the day

#2 AB de Villiers wages a lone battle

AB de Villiers produced a couple of match-winning and series-defining knocks in the Test series against India and often helped South Africa get out of trouble. He was at it once again. Coming in to bat at 27/2, AB de Villiers soaked in the pressure brilliantly.

Right from the word go, de Villiers looked in supreme touch. He had answers to everything Australia threw at him. He played the Aussie quicks brilliantly. But the way he countered Lyon was superb. The 30-year old New South Wales offspinner was bowling beautifully, but de Villiers used his feet excellently, swept well and also used the depth of the crease very well as he was the only batsman who put Lyon under some sort of pressure.

de Villiers struck 11 boundaries as he made an unbeaten 71 and he was the only South African batsman who could handle the pressure. It certainly looked like AB de Villiers was batting on a totally different pitch as compared to his teammates as he was left stranded at the other end as he found no support and South Africa were bowled out for 162.