http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 relieved after completing ton - Cricket News Update
The South African captain, Graeme http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 at the Oval.
The Proteas left-hander, who is playing in his 100th Test, was in the thick of the action as he scored his 25th career century, further helping his side cement their position on the match. After bowling out the opposition on 385, the
visitors endured a tough start where they lost opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JM-Anderson-c1705.
However, the touring side restored dominancy through Smith and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hamisi-Abdallah-c61368, both of whom took a cautious approach in the early phases before blossoming to guide their side in pole position on Day 3.
Smith’s knock was far more emotional than his teammate. He survived a tough period on the third morning, remaining scoreless for 17 balls and 20 minutes on 48 before attaining his half-century off Graeme Swann with a wristy flick.
Getting to his first landmark, he then looked content on frustrating the English bowlers and waited for his opportunities to score runs. A barren period of 18 dot balls followed but Smith quickly got into the groove and went onto smash back to back boundaries
to reach his 100 – his seventh against the POms, fifth in England and making him the 7th player to reach that landmark in his 100th outing.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet. It was kind of surreal at the time. A lot of thoughts and emotions went through my head," Smith said. "It was a dream come true to come out and have the chance to do that. At one stage when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GP-Swann-c1501 was spinning it past
my bat, the hundred looked a long time away but once I fought through those tough times, it became a reality,"Smith said.
The batting performance from the Protease, which include a century for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JH-Kallis-c1692 and a triple ton from Amla, has left the Englishmen striving for a draw which looks like a tough ask against the visitor’s bowling line-up. Trailing by 150 runs and 4 wickets
down, England have their work cut out if they are to avoid defeat.
“We need to respect our opponent, they have the ability to bounce back, But we want to have a chance to push for a victory,” he said.
The South African captain will fly back home before the second Test for the birth of his child, although it is expected that he will return by the 2nd of August to feature in the second Test.
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