If you're looking for omens, we've got them. After Tristan Stubbs tucked Asitha Fernando to square leg and set off on a determined sprint for the two runs he needed to bring up his second century in as many Tests within 31 days, Kingsmead’s main scoreboard lit up with South Africa's lead: 438.
As Stubbs completed his long-legged journey to the century mark, the first tune from the freshly arrived Northwood High School brass band blared over the ground—Eddy Grant's "Gimme Hope Jo'anna." One could almost hear the Sri Lankans asking: hope for what, exactly?
Just then, a siren-wailing vehicle sped past on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, drawing attention. Some eyes would have been drawn not to the smaller, manual scoreboard but to a small sign underneath: "Emergency exit." But, of course, for Sri Lanka, there was no escape.
Temba Bavuma, too, played his part in this drama. After lunging outside his off stump to sweep Prabath Jayasuriya to deep square for three, he removed his helmet and raised his bat—his third century was in the books. Or so he thought. The visitors reviewed for an lbw decision. Bavuma replaced his helmet and waited, and when UltraEdge showed the faintest spike as the ball passed his glove, Bavuma removed his helmet again, giving the crowd of 1,728 a chance to show their appreciation. The luck seemed to be with South Africa—everything that could go wrong for Sri Lanka, seemed to be doing so.
By the time Vishwa Fernando clean bowled Stubbs for 122 just before Tea, South Africa had already gained complete control, thanks to the 249-run partnership between Stubbs and Bavuma. When Asitha Fernando trapped Bavuma in front for 113 to end the session, South Africa declared at 366/5.
Where were the doom prophets of 2019 now? The ones who thought South Africa was doomed after their collapse? Perhaps waiting for another omen, hoping the ghosts of past triumphs would conjure another miracle. But this time, Sri Lanka wasn't chasing 304 as they had in February 2019. Instead, they were faced with 516—a target 212 runs larger—and without Kusal Perera, who was the hero of that famous win.
By stumps, Sri Lanka had lost half their wickets and were still 413 runs away from victory. It seems unlikely that they will get anywhere near, and even if Perera were to join as a concussion substitute, his recent form suggests it wouldn't be enough.
As Bavuma’s century was confirmed on the scoreboard, the word "Malume!" flashed—an isiXhosa and isiZulu term meaning "uncle." While Bavuma is only 34 and a relatively new father, his maturity has far surpassed his years, shaped by his experiences and struggles, particularly in overcoming the racist challenges faced by him in South African cricket.
Stubbs, 10 years younger, is part of a new generation. When he made his international debut in 2022, Bavuma had already played 51 caps. The South African Test team then was vastly different—performing better on the field, but still struggling with a culture of irrational hierarchy and insufficient mutual respect. Bavuma has lived through challenges that Stubbs will hopefully never face.
The pair share a valuable partnership, despite their differences. "I'm energetic and he calms me down, and I get him up," Stubbs said. "When you're batting with someone in a big partnership, you get the rhythm, and you know what you want to talk about."
And what did they talk about as they neared their centuries? Stubbs recalled, “I didn’t want to say much because I knew he would be nervous in the 90s. But when he was on 98 and the spinner was on, he faced the first ball, got a single, and then said, 'Please get me one here, I need to get on strike.' That was the most nervous I felt because I thought, ‘I have to get one here.’"
Bavuma admitted his own nerves when approaching his century: "I’m not too good when I get to the 80s and 90s. I always try to get to a hundred as soon as I can." He described how, at 97, he went to Stubbs and said, "Stubbo, please get me on strike; I can’t wait at this end."
Hundreds are the currency of a batter's worth, and Bavuma, though only having three in 103 innings, now seems to have found a way to convert those 50s and 60s into match-winning contributions. "It’s always nice to score a hundred," Bavuma said, "but I’m starting to find a formula for how you can not just score 50s and 60s but put the team in a strong position."
Stubbs, too, was full of praise for his partner, comparing him to AB de Villiers, whose intensity and reminders about plans kept him focused. It’s high praise indeed when you’re compared to someone like de Villiers.
The nickname "Malume" might be a playful one, but it reflects the respect Bavuma has earned over the years. Asked about it by a reporter, Bavuma chuckled. "I take it as a compliment," he said, hoping it was tied to wisdom. "I'm sure in a few months I'll have another nickname."
Whatever it is, it will surely be respectful. Bavuma has earned that, the hard way.
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