Tim Paine scored 36 and David Warner 63 as Australia scored 243 in the 1st innings on Day 1 in Port Elizabeth Test. Warner and Paine both had busy weeks following the 1st test but it was the on field performance of patience timing and desire that proved invaluable to Steve Smith’s Australian Team.
Australian off spinner the great Nathan Lyon praised Paine after the opening Days play saying Tim has added a real cool and calm presence in the Australian rooms and made him and the other lower order batsmen feel at ease at the crease. Something that was perhaps missing in the series before Paine’s return.
Batting at Number 6 Tim Paine again showed his class to adapt to match conditions with Mitch Marsh sick and unable bat at his usual 6 spot Painey moved up the order and batted for time adding a vital 36 as wickets fell around him. Hitting lovely 5 boundaries in his 90 odd min stay at the crease wonderful pull and cut shots lead the way for Australia batting with Lyon and Josh Hazlewood in particular for the last wicket putting on 31 run partnership Australia went from 8/182 to 243 all out.
I have admired Tim for years and his experience at Test Cricket has him set it’s been a truely remarkable turn around by Painey but not surprised he’s worked as hard as Smith and Warner over his career only injury has held him back but reaching 11 Test Matches is something to be proud of it’s not a mountain of matches like Ian Healy or Adam Gilchrist played (both over 90 tests) but given his form and challenges Paine is now a vital member of Steve Smith’s Team.
Tim Paine Keeping late on Day 1 of 2nd Test
South Africa will resume day 2 1/39 after Pat Cummins opening break through.
