SOUTH AFRICA TOUR OF ENGLAND 2012

South Africa vs England 1st Test Report

South Africa Hammered England in 1st Test

South Africa Tour of England 1st Test Report

South Africa tour of England Test Series

South Africa, they have absolutely drubbed their opponents and have been better at all facts of the game. After batting extremely well to take the lead, their bowlers turned up and showed why they are the real deal. Dale Steyn was at his lethal best as he claimed five scalps and he got goos support from the leg spinner Imran Tahir.

The match will be remembered for the numerous records from South Africa. Amla became the first South African batsman to score a triple hundred, in the process he overtook AB de Villiers to become the highest individual scorer for his team. Jacques Kallis continued on his merry run, he now has 43 Test tons to his credit. The bowlers then joined in the party. On a pitch that held no demons for the batsmen, Dale Steyn and company did excellently well to grab the 20 wickets. A nice little present to their skipper, Graeme Smith who celebrated his 100th Test with a century as well as a Test win. The visitors have also broken the jinx of the Kia Oval, this is their 1st win in 14 atttempts.

Ian Bell trying to make a draw for England

South Africa will look to wrap up the first Test against England when they go into the fifth and final day at the Kia Oval on Monday. England will resume the day on 102 for 4 in their second innings, still trailing the South Africans by 150 runs. Comeback man Ravi Bopara (15) and Ian Bell (14) are at the crease and face a Herculean task of fetching a draw for England. The fourth day on Sunday belonged to the visitors with Hashim Amla (311 not out) becoming the first South African player ever to score a triple ton. Veteran genius Jacques Kallis also made 182 not out as the visitors piled up 637 for 2 declared. The hosts were awful during their batting in the second innings losing captain Andrew Strauss (27), Alastair Cook (0), Jonathan Trott (10) and Kevin Pietersen (16) cheaply. Dale Steyn turned out to be the chief destroyer in England’s second innings. The fast bowler picked up 5 for 56 to have the match figures of 7 for 155. Legspinner Imran Tahir too grabbed three wickets. Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander shared one wicket apiece.

Hashim Amla to his massive triple tons

South Africa, dominant since the start of the second day, secured an innings and 12-run victory at the Kia Oval as they broke the back of some stubborn England resistance either side of the new ball on the final afternoon. Ian Bell and Matt Prior had given the home side hope, but Imran Tahir broke the stand and Dale Steyn then steamed in to finish with 5 for 56.

The result was nothing less than South Africa deserved for a performance that confirmed what a formidable team they are and they achieved it on a ground where they had not won in 13 previous attempts. Indifferent on the first day, they barely put a foot wrong from the moment they rattled England on Friday morning. Showing the benefit of a finely balanced attack including pace, swing, seam, accuracy and spin, they did not fret when resistance was being put up.

It was England's first home defeat since losing to Pakistan, on the same ground Kia Oval, in 2010 and their first innings loss since facing South Africa, at Johannesburg, earlier that same year. For South Africa, it continues their run of taking the series lead each time in England since readmission although it is the first time they have won the opening Test since 1994.

Dale Steyn gets another wicket 

After loosing England skipper Andrew Strauss says, 'South Africa played some outstanding cricket after Day 1. They deserve all the credit. Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis were outstanding. We did not make use of a good platform on the second day. We have lessons to learn and hopefully we will do so before the next Test. The wicket was pretty good even today, credit to their bowlers who kept constant pressure on us. We need to learn from this Test. I believe that we have an outstanding bowling attack, I am confident that they can take 20 wickets on any track (obviously, not on this). Their batsmen stuck to their task and did not give us much of a chance. Scoring 300 on any pitch is always a great job, Hashim Amla was fantastic. Our preparations were good, we have no excuses on that front. I believe that we can come back and win the next 2 Tests.'

Dale Steyn makes his five wickets 

And South African skipper Graeme Smith told at media, 'Extremely proud to have won the 1st Test in the series, especially after what happened on Day 1. I feel we did not bowl all that badly on the first day. Credit to our bowlers, they came back well after the first day. The conditions did help us, but we stuck to our task. We have a batting unit that can perform anywhere in the world. Hashim Amla was amazing, great job done by him. We know that conditions will be very different at Headingley, we are prepared for that.'

Hashim Amla announced man of the match for his excellent not out triple tons. Hashim Amla says, 'It has been a great experience to bat in this line-up. Nice to get a triple under my belt. I have learnt a lot from my seniors in the team. Batting with Jacques Kallis is an education. He is one of the best when it comes to batting, I have learnt a lot playing with him. Graeme Smith is another batsman with whom I enjoy batting. Swann was bowling very well and we wanted to make sure that he does not pick up early wickets. Batting is an art, it is all about constructing an innings. I hope that I will continue to bat well in the remainder of the series.'

Summary of 1st Test :


England 1st innings  
Batsmen               R     B    4's   6's    S/R
A Cook              115   295   11    1   38.98
J Trott                  71   162     9    0   43.83
M Prior                60     90     9    0   66.67
EXT: 43   B: 2   LB: 24   NB: 14   WD: 3   P: 0   TOT: 385/10 (125.5)   RR: 3.05

Bowlers                O     M    R    W    NB   WD    E/R
Morne Morkel    24.5    2    72     4      5       2      2.89
Dale Steyn          30      7    99     2      0       0      3.30
Jacques Kallis     19      7    38     2      0       1      2.00

South Africa 1st Inning
Batsmen                    R      B      4's    6's    S/R
Graeme Smith        131   273    20     0    47.99
Hashim Amla          311   529    35     0    58.79
Jacques Kallis         182   326    23     1    55.83
EXT: 13   B: 5   LB: 4   NB: 2   WD: 2   P: 0   TOT: 637/2 (189.0)   RR: 3.37

Bowlers                   O      M     R    W     NB     WD     E/R
James Anderson      41      7   116    1        1        0       2.82
Tim Bresnan            37      2   140    1        1        0       3.78

England 2nd Innings
Batsmen                  R     B     4's    6's     S/R
Ian Bell                   55  220      6      0     25.00
Matt Prior               40    86      5       0     46.51
EXT: 39   B: 10   LB: 16   NB: 12   WD: 1   P , : 0    TOT: 240/10 (97.0)    RR: 2.47

Bowlers                    O     M     R    W     NB   WD    E/R
Dale Steyn               21      6    56     5       0       0      2.66
Imran Tahir             32      7    63     3       6       0      1.96

South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs.

Imran Tahir gets another wicket 

The Test series was built up as the fight for the World No. 1 rankings. The 1st Test however was a bit of a dampener on that front with South Africa hardly breaking a sweat before romping home by an innings. 

The Test series takes a 10 day break before these two teams line up for the 2nd Test at Headingley on August 2nd.

Do join us for all the action. For now, cheers and bye from Kia Oval.



Tags : south africa , england , kia oval , test , batsman , hashim amla , dale steyn , series , imran tahir , jacques kallis , wicket , bowlers , batsmen