Temba Bavuma’s historic innings on Tuesday was the toast of the South African newspapers yesterday morning.
The pint-sized 25-year-old scored a Test century for the Proteas during the fourth day of the second Test in Cape Town and his achievement has been recognised across the country.
The Cape Times devoted the top of its front page to Bavuma with the headline 102 not out, with Michael Mentz describing his knock as the innings of his life at his home ground.
“I would have liked to bat the rest of tomorrow if I could,” the batsman said.
“I was born in Cape Town and my passion for cricket grew from here.
“Having achieved this milestone at my favourite ground in the world makes it more special, but I’m also looking forward to playing at the Wanderers where I made my mark in first class cricket.”
Bavuma’s feat was watched by his father Vuyo, a former reporter who worked at the Cape Times and Cape Argus, although he was not expecting any favours at the post-match press conference.
“I see he (Vuyo) was here and yes he will also be asking questions just like the journalists do.”
Meanwhile, national newspaper The Times featured a picture of a Bavuma at the moment he reached three figures with the headline Cometh the hour, Cometh the man. Meanwhile, Firdoose Moonda’s article for ESPN described him as the “son of transformation”.
“When he raised his bat at Newlands the only thing he would have seen, heard and felt was passion,” wrote Moonda.
“There was Ntini on the commentators balcony passing on a baton; there was an elderly white couple in the stands, who would have known the South Africa before Bavuma was born; there was his father in the president’s suite, a place he would not have been allowed near in the bad old days, and there were the KFC kids on the boundary rope from the same township Bavuma was brought up in. All of them were smiling, most of them were crying too. What Bavuma achieved was big. Very, very big.  Bigger than Bavuma may have thought was possible when he walked out to bat in the second session.”