… the sixth black cricketer since 1991

TEMBA Bavuma made history yesterday as he became the first black South African man to have scored a Test century.England toiled in the Cape Town field as the hosts clawed their way back into the match by declaring on 627-7, led by Hamish Amla and Bavuma.
The pint-sized batsman, who many believe is playing here only because of the colour of his skin, reached his century off 141 balls and finished on 102 not out.
“It’s a moment to cherish forever, especially here at Newlands, my favourite ground,” he said.
“I can’t tell you what was going through my mind but there was a lot of emotion and relief. I’ve been wanting to cross off that first Test hundred.
“It’s a special moment for my family too – they flew in from their holiday to be here in time.”
England made it to 16 without loss before the end of day four and are 18 runs ahead, but the second Test seems destined to finish in a draw.
Bavuma, who stands at just 5ft 3in, became only the sixth black South African cricketer since readmission in 1991 when he made his debut last year, and was the first specialist batsman.
His innings yesterday was not without its fortune, as he inside-edged Ben Stokes at the start of a superlative century that led South Africa to safety.
‘You are absolutely s***,’ mouthed Stokes at the local township boy who vindicated South Africa’s controversial selection policy.
On the sledging, Bavuma said after the day’s play: ‘It was words of encouragement, if I could put in politely.
‘It was almost like being back at school cricket with guys going hard at me for being small. But it enabled me to knuckle down and concentrate a bit harder.
‘Pressure is always there. As a young guy there is always pressure. I just tried to keep calm and use my opportunity. I want to make a mark on international level.’
England were convinced after Durban that Bavuma, with one half-century against Bangladesh in his previous six Tests, was little more than a walking wicket.
His selection ahead of JP Duminy here smacked of political interference – with the unwritten rule insisting that South Africa include four players ‘of colour’, one of which must be a black African – and England clearly expected to dispose of him and the tail quickly. Instead the 25-year-old showed he really does belong very much on merit.
There were signs of nervousness as Bavuma neared three figures and he was to join the long list of beneficiaries of England’s butter-fingered fielding when he was dropped by a diving Jonny Bairstow off Stuart Broad on 77.
But that did not stop him receiving an emotional ovation when he edged Steven Finn just wide of slip for the boundary that took him to a hundred and a seminal place in South African cricket history.
As Newlands rose to the boy from the Cape Town township of Langa and Bavuma’s father Buyo was swamped in celebration in the stands, Stokes was one of the England players offering warm applause, a nice postscript to their clash.