South Africa's show-stopping squirrel

During the change-over between the women's and men's game a squirrel, perhaps from the nearby Newlands Forest, made its way onto the outfield. No-one took much notice until toss time when it caught the attention of some cameras and then again as the match began, when it had still not left the field. Shortly before the start, five security personnel tried to shoo the squirrel off but every time it got close to the boundary rope, it moved away, presumably afraid of the noise. After the first over, Newlands groundstaff were given permission to stop the game for a few minutes while they tried to remove the squirrel. A barefoot lady laid a trail of nuts along the railway stand to try and trap it but the squirrrel was stubborn and stayed on the field for 10.4 overs before disappearing under the advertising boards close to the oaks, always remaining particularly close to James Faulkner.

Never mind the Kingsmead cat. Now we have Newlands going nuts.

Hashim Amla displaced AB de Villiers in the South African XI and quickly allayed fears that would mean a slow start. He showed power and finesse and then got away with a bit of the cheekiness de Villiers sometimes manages when he moved across his stumps and tried to flick Nathan Coulter-Nile around the corner. Amla only managed a top-edge but had made such good contact that the ball cleared third man and went for six.

Adam Zampa deserved some reward for his efforts which included the first and third boundary-less overs of the innings and played a part in frustrating Rilee Rossouw. The South African No. 4 had enough of being tied down and tried to slog-sweep the legspinner over midwicket but directed his shot at Glenn Maxwell on the boundary. All Maxwell had to do was accept the catch and he had it in his hands but was watching Zampa's premature celebrations and let the ball slip out. Zampa finished with the most economical figures but had nothing to show for them.

Kagiso Rabada did not take kindly to being hit around and three balls after Shane Watson sent him for six over square leg he responded with a searing bouncer. Rabada banged one in at 147 kph that beat Watson's pull and put him on his backside. As the opener was gathering himself to get up, Rabada had a few things to say that did not seem to be an enquiry about his health. Watson got back on his feet and responded with a hearty giggle to diffuse the tension.

If one side can do it, so can the other and South Africa had their fielding blunder when David Miller put down Shane Watson to deny Imran Tahir a celebration. Watson had already slog-swept Tahir for six on the previous ball and then targeted the area straight down the ground but did not get enough on it. Miller, at long-off, was waiting to collect. The ball died on him as it approached but he got into a good position and should have held on. Watson was on 30 at the time.

Not only did Watson survive that chance but another when, on 40, he tried to smash Tahir straight down the ground again but miscued. Miller was at long-off and should have run in to take the catch but Faf du Plessis, at cover called for it but failed to corral it. The next ball, Watson played exactly the same shot. Miller held off, du Plessis ran backwards from cover and pulled off a diving catch to end Watson's stay at the crease.