Proteas capitulate, yet again!
England dismantled the Proteas before lunch to win the first Test by a whopping 241 runs at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
|||It was quick, ruthless and cold-blooded – England dismantled the Proteas before lunch to win the first Test by a whopping 241 runs at Kingsmead on Wednesday.
South Africa lost their last six wickets on day five for just 38 runs, with their only hope of saving the game, AB de Villiers, crashing after just three balls when Moeen Ali got one to turn and keep low from around the wicket.
De Villiers (37 off 86 balls, 6x4) went too far across his stumps, and was trapped lbw. The Proteas wicket-keeper decided to review the umpire’s decision, but the replays showed the ball would’ve clipped leg-stump.
That was the end of South Africa’s chances of saving the game, and the finish came swiftly after that. In Moeen’s second over of the day, Temba Bavuma charged down the wicket but didn’t get to the pitch of the ball, which didn’t turn inward and went straight on with the arm.
It was a superb delivery from the England off-spinner, and wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow made no mistake this time around with the stumping after missing a great opportunity to get rid of De Villiers on Tuesday.
Moeen was chosen as the Man of the Match after taking 3/47 in 26 overs in the second innings and seven wickets in the game.
Nightwatchman Dale Steyn followed soon after that when the excellent Steven Finn (4/42 in 15 overs) knocked over South Africa’s premier bowler with a sharp away-swinger.
JP Duminy hit a few trademark cover drives that were easy on the eye, and reached 26 not out (59 balls, 5x4). But Kyle Abbott, Dane Piedt and Morné Morkel didn’t offer much resistance, and England deservedly went up 1-0 in the four-Test series.
It was the Proteas’ continued poor batting in both innings that was the difference in the end, as they could score only 214 and 174. In contrast, England got beyond 300 twice (303 and 326).
Serious questions will now be asked of the likes of Stiaan van Zyl as an opener, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Duminy’s struggles with the bat, and whether De Villiers should carry on as the wicket-keeper for the New Year’s Test at Newlands, which starts on Saturday.
Proteas coach Russell Domingo and the selectors don’t have too many alternative options, with Rilee Rossouw the only extra batsman in the current squad. Other contenders include Lions opener Stephen Cook, who scored 168 not out for his franchise this week, and Titans wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock, who got to 117 in Sunfoil Series action as well.
Steyn is also likely to sit out with his shoulder strain, which should see Kagiso Rabada recalled to the starting XI.
ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za
@IndyCapeSport