00:00In this video, you will see Hansi Cronier in commanding touch during the first testing
00:05in Sri Lanka at Cape Town in March 1998, on a pitch that offered good pace and consistent
00:11bounds.
00:12Perfectly suited to his batting style, Cronier rose to the challenge with confidence.
00:16He played a stroke-filled innings, lacing four elegant boundaries and launching one
00:20towering six that lifted the crowd.
00:47Good use of the feet, having played back for most of the over, and four, 1.75 for three.
00:58The ideal way to play the spinner, play him off the back.
01:09Nice looking on drive by Cronier, he's going to bring him a couple, he's running hard,
01:14wanting the third, but he won't get it.
01:19Wings up the 200, three down.
01:21Beautifully played, through mid-wicket, four runs, that was glorious timing.
01:37Next time power volley, can't bowl that, players of international quality, and Hansi Cronier
01:53has no trouble, helping that on its way through mid-wicket for four.
02:02Diving mid-off, just couldn't reach it, four runs straight down the ground.
02:09The runs just keep coming.
02:11Hansi Cronier, very good shot straight past the bowler, Pushpa Kamara over-pitching.
02:17Sixth boundary in his innings so far.
02:18Hansi Cronier likes that area, just a little bit too much air afforded by Aravinda Da Silva,
02:24and Cronier pounced on it.
02:26Well, this is extremely well hit because it's a long boundary out towards the members' pavilion,
02:33and he gets hold of it very cleanly indeed.
02:40Out, court slip, and that is good cricket.
02:47They blocked the cover area.
02:48Ronier couldn't get it through there, looked to run it.
02:49No doubt.
02:50Players, doesn't play the late cut as naturally as some.
02:54And the slip takes it in his fingertips.
03:23Although he just falls short of a half century, scoring 49 runs from 90 balls in 92 minutes,
03:30the value of his innings lay in the way he dictated terms to the opposition.
03:34His aggressive mindset ensured that Sri Lankan ballers were consistently under pressure, never
03:40allowed to settle into rhythm.
03:42Each shot reflected not just his timing but also his natural instinct to keep the scoreboard
03:48moving.
03:49Hence, Cronier batting in this period gave South Africa much more than runs.
03:53It gave them character, direction, and the belief to dominate.
03:57Under his watchful eye and shrewd cricketing brain, South Africa often found a deeper approach
04:03to the game, blending discipline with flair.
04:05South Africa went on to win the Test match, but Cronier spirited Knox stood out as a reminder
04:10of how one man's intent at the crease could shift the momentum in his team's favour.
04:16It was yet another glimpse of the competitive edge he so often brought to the field.
04:21If you like this video, please comment, share, and subscribe.
04:24Thank you very much.
Comments