James Lawton: Nel's fast delivery leaves Lara doubly disappointed

Monday 19 January 2004 20:00 EST
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South Africa's emerging paceman Andre Nel surely deserves some kind of award for his weekend's work. After a day of Test match duty against the West Indies at Centurion Park, he raced away to get married and then, after the usual rituals, reported back for cricket duty the following morning clear-eyed and full of running.

He then proceeded to dismiss the world's best batsman, Brian Lara, not once but twice. Lara was on 34 in the first innings and threatening another big score as part of his renaissance when Nel had him caught behind by Mark Boucher. When the West Indians followed on, Nel remained in rampant form, sending back the great man lbw for six.

With becoming modesty, the new Mrs Nel has refused to cast light on her husband's wedding night performance, though in the circumstances it is perhaps reasonable to presume that it was marked by a degree of restraint. If this wasn't so, the best guess is that Clark Kent is alive and well and changing into whites when he steps into a telephone box.

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