When Imran Tahir helped South Africa save a Test with hilarious time-wasting tactics
- It was quite unlike South Africa to have their own tryst with the idea of Imran Tahir the Test cricketer. Historically, teams have refrained from fielding a wristspinner alongside a three-pronged pace attack unless they’ve found a Shane Warne or Anil Kumble.
Tahir’s Test career thus went on expected lines. With batters having enough time to sight his googly from the legbreak and cut down risks, he averaged 40.24 for his 57 scalps while giving away an expensive 3.5 runs per over.
The limited-overs giant’s last Test came in 2015. But a year before that, he found a way to leave his mark for the Test side. And that too in his secondary skill. Going to bat in the dying moments of the second Test of a two-match series in Sri Lanka, Tahir played out 21 balls at his end to secure a draw which gave South Africa a 1-0 series victory.
But his effort with the bat isn’t remembered for its self-restraint nature. What it is fresh in memories for are the funny time-wasting antics that the bowler indulged in at the crease.
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In pain or acting? When Imran Tahir saved a Test with the bat
Imran Tahir’s funny time-wasting tactics.
The answer to whether Imran Tahir faked his injury and pain in this incident can only be given by him. But from the outside, it felt hilarious as he started cramping straight after defending the last ball of the penultimate over of Day 5.
With South Africa conceding a 139-run first-innings lead and fighting for survival in the closing hours, Tahir dead batted his way for 21 deliveries. But just prior to succeeding at his task, he seems to have indulged in some time-wasting tactics, going down on the turf in pain after defending a delivery from Dilruwan Perara whilst the Sri Lankan team watched in frustration.
Tahir immediately lied down on the turf while the commentators started to talk the moment up, finding it amusing that the cramps started to kick in with an over to spare despite the batter comfortably defending the previous ball.
As the cameras rolled up to the rest of the South African players sitting in the pavilion, one of them couldn’t help but laugh seeing the funny side of things.