England v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 overwhelmed by his team's success in the first Test - Cricket News Update
South Africa’s Test captain, Graeme Smith, is overjoyed at his team’s emphatic win against hosts England by an innings and 12 runs in the first match of the three-Test series.
"This is an extremely proud moment for all of us. In the context of the first innings this is a great achievement for us. We found an intensity on day two and got a few more plans right,” said Smith in the post-match ceremony.
South Africa pulled-off this victory, after getting hammered for 385 runs by England in the first innings, however, the Proteas enforced their supremacy by a phenomenal batting performance from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557, who hit an unbeaten innings of 311 runs alongside Jacques Kallis, who forged an innings of 182 runs, as South Africa subdued England’s first innings tally by bolstering a nerve-wrecking total of 637 runs.
It was then DW Steyn's show as the strike bowler grabbed five wickets in the second innings, to deny England a chance to save the game, with the hosts faltering after amassing a second innings total of 240 runs.
From England, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IR-Bell-c1597 was their best batsman in the second innings, after having smashed a 55-run knock, while the remaining batsmen failed to handle the South African bowling offensive.
Smith praised the adaptability of his batting line-up, which according to him has the capacity to take on any side anywhere in the word.
“We've got a batting unit that's been successful all around the world and mentally can adapt to all conditions," he opined.
Talking about his side’s resurgence after they were bogged down on the first day by the English, with opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 said, “I always felt we were ready and just needed to get into the game.”
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 are now holding on to their number-one status in Test cricket only by a thread and will have to level the series in the second Test beginning from Thursday, August 02, at Headingley, Leeds.
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