http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 overcomes his deadlock with a century – Cricket News Update
South African Captain, Graeme Smith, has billed his century against the Australian side as a much needed comeback and that the ton has aided the opening batsman to overcome his down sliding deadlock under the format.
Smith’s hundred runs mark came as major contribution to South Africa’s chase of 236 runs, posted by the Australian side, which suffered a humiliating crumble at its line-up, losing all players at a disappointing total of 47 runs in the second innings.
However, alongside Skipper Smith, it was Hashim Amla’s top scoring century, on his part, which too aided the Proteas to cover up an accessible mark, handing over an 8 wickets defeat to the Australian tourists on Friday, November 11 at the Newlands venue,
in Cape Town.
Having secured a 1-0 lead at the 2-match series, Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 also commended his squad, but particularly his bowling line-up, for putting up an imposing performance during Australia’s second innings run, and stated that he never expected his roster to achieve
such a milestone act.
“It was about what we wanted to achieve. We never expected 21 for nine, although there were a few jokes about 60 or 70 but I don’t think anyone believed it. It was about a bit of direction and the bowlers knew they needed to do a job for us. That shows the
character of the team. We didn't just back off. Obviously there was something in the wicket for us but to bowl with that intensity was a good sign,” said Smith.
The modest Captain also lauded Australia’s all-round star player, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558, who delivered a major blow on the South African line-up during their opening innings play, collecting 5 wickets, in association with Ryan Harris’s haul of 4, all of which restricted
the Proteas batsmen to score a minor tally of 96 runs, before all players being bowled out.
“Watson got the ball to talk and we learned something from that,” said Smith. “He was very tight on off stump. There was enough movement each way to create chances”.
The South African will once again face the Aussie visitors in the second and final Test match, which begins on November 17, 2011 at Johannesburg.
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