Proteas humiliated at Kingsmead

South Africa suffered a humiliating 241-run defeat at the hands of England in the first Test at Kingsmead.

South Africa subsided to a humiliating 241-run defeat by a rampant England in the first Test at Kingsmead on the final day this morning.

The Proteas, who resumed on 136/4 chasing an improbable 416 for victory, couldn’t even survive to lunch after their main hope, AB deVilliers, was leg before to man of the match Moeen Ali off the third ball of the day.

The massed England supporters had barely finished their morning rendition of Jerusalem and Happy Birthday to Joe Root (25 today) when Ali struck in the opening over, turning one back into De Villiers who simply missed a routine push off the back foot. Although De Villiers appealed against the decision, replays showed that he was plumb in front.

His departure effectively decided the match because all the steam went out of the South African batsmen. Temba Bavuma was the next to go in Ali’s next over. He wandered down the pitch, missed a straight one and was stumped by Jonny Bairstow. Then it was nightwatchman Dale Steyn’s turn, as he played inside the line to have his off-stump knocked back by Steven Finn.

Counting Faf du Plessis’ dismissal the previous evening, three wickets had thus fallen on 136. Two runs later Kyle Abbott was trapped in front to give Ali his third wicket and South Africa were in free fall on 143/8.

JP Duminy played a few nice strokes, a cover drive and an on drive off Finn the best of them, and he at least was undefeated on 26 at the end of the game which took place 20 minutes before lunch when Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Dane Piedt and Morne Morkel.