South Africa rout Australia in a dramatic Test – Match Update
South Africa have cruised to an eight wicket win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the first Test of the two match series at the Newlands, Cape Town in South Africa on Friday, November 11, 2011.
The hosts needed 236 runs for victory and achieved the target comfortably, courtesy spectacular centuries from skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557.
The latter ended up being the top scorer of the innings, scoring 112 runs with the help of 21 boundaries. He had his share of luck, getting dropped twice in the innings.
The stylish right-handed batsman was dismissed just at the closing moments of the match, as he guided one short delivery from Mitchell Johnson straight to the hands of the gully fielder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 did not throw his wicket away and remained unbeaten until the end. He just managed to reach three figures and scored the winning run for his side. The solid left-handed opener contributed 101 runs to the total with the help of 15 fours.
Earlier, the hosts won the toss and opted to field first on a lively pitch. The decision proved to be a very good one, as the Kangaroos struggled to score runs.
Australia’s innings was wrapped up at 284, but the team would have been pleased with this performance at the end.
The tourists’ skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 was in phenomenal form, as he top scored the innings with 151 runs, smashing 22 boundaries.
South Africa’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DW-Steyn-c1409 used the conditions extremely well, picking up four wickets in the innings, but the team’s batting failed miserably in the first innings.
The Proteas were dismissed for 96 runs, conceding a first innings lead of 188 runs. They were troubled by the quality seam bowling from all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558, who picked up a five wicket-haul.
Australia were in a commanding position at that stage, but a fabulous spell of bowling from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vernon-Philander-c2753 changed the complexion of the game completely.
Philander picked up five wickets in the innings, restricting the visitors to 47 all out in their second outing.
This gave a momentum to the home side and they easily managed to win the match by eight wickets. The only two wickets to fall in the South African second innings were picked up by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MG-Johnson-c1945.
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