Hayden’s innings was a masterpiece. It reached its pinnacle during the spell from Ntini immediately following lunch. The ball by ball commentary read like this:
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, FOUR, good shot! pitched up outside off stump, drives well past the short cover to the fence.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, FOUR, good shot! pitched up outside off stump, drives well past the short cover to the fence.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, FOUR, good shot! pitched up outside off stump, drives well past the short cover to the fence.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, FOUR, good shot! pitched up outside off stump, drives well past the short cover to the fence.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, FOUR, good shot! pitched up outside off stump, drives well past the short cover to the fence.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, no run, left alone outside off stump.
Ntini to Hayden, FOUR, good shot! pitched up outside off stump, drives well past the short cover to the fence.
and on like that interminably. A binary innings. Both teams were in complete control. The South African bowlers (not just Ntini) with a stacked field covering the off drive were relentlessly pitching up outside off stump. Hayden was rigorous in his leaving. His patience was impeccable, waiting for that aberrant delivery which would from time to time enter his strike zone and disappear to the boundary. Two relentless modulations making up an utterly mesmerising innings. It was sad and a terrible shock when Hayden eventually played loosely at a ball that was clearly just a little too wide and edged to slip.
Urn Malley had been dreaming of Hayden and Ponting being still at the crease together as the evening came in, as the shadows lengthened and the sun’s angle made the persistent yet weary South Africans look like they were starting to blend with the gleaming golden grass. Golden exhausted fielders at the end of an epic day’s partnership.
Dreams shattered by the melodrama that is Andre Nel.
