South Africa v Australia – 1st Test – 3rd Day’s Summary
Australia 284 & 47 v South Africa 96 & 236 - South Africa won by 8 wickets
South Africa took a 1-0 lead over Australia in a two-match Test series after beating the visitors by eight wickets on Friday, November 11, 2011 at Newlands, Cape Town.
After having one of the most eventful days in the history of Test cricket, the third day was waiting for a result.
Needing 236 runs to win, the Proteas needed to bat with nerves of steel to subdue the Aussies as the former world number-one team failed to stand against the belligerent South African bowling arsenal on the second day of the game, where the Aussies could
only muster 47 runs in their second innings after incinerating the hosts on a mere tally of 96 runs.
With an overnight score of 81 runs for the loss of one wicket, South African skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557 (29) came out to bat, hoping to steer their side to an easy victory over the Aussies, but while playing against the Australians a victory
is never easy to come by, a reality which the Proteas were clearly aware of.
However, to everyone’s amazement the Cape Town wickets seemed to have had an overnight makeover as the bowling paradise had turned into a batting pitch as the batsmen did not feel any problems while facing the Australians who were desperate to make early
inroads right from the word go.
Aussie skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Dent-c41093 in the partnership
between the two South African batsmen.
While the South African duo exhibited fancy batting, the Australian gave an impressive show in the field as they were guilty of dropping a couple of catches which helped in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757’s cause and had those catches been held on to, Australia might have
given the hosts a tougher time.
However, the pressure of the intense game got the better of the Australian fielders which resulted in the demise of the team.
The duo of Smith and Amla amassed a massive tally of 195 runs in the second wicket partnership which actually took the game away from the Australians and crushed their chances of making a miraculous comeback in the game in the eye of an imminent defeat.
Later, Amla after playing an emphatic innings of 112 runs was caught by Clarke at gully off the bowling of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 as South Africa had posted 222 runs at the time of this wicket.
Smith remained unbeaten for 101 runs as his side handed Australia a defeat in the match.
South African pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vernon-Philander-c2753 was named the Player of Match for taking eight wickets in the match as he took disintegrated the Aussies in the second innings by taking five stupendous wickets.
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