The Proteas completed an incredible 107-run victory against England thanks to lethal bowling on Day 4 of the first Test in Centurion, writes Khalid Mohidin.
What a match. A true example of Test cricket. A match that represents much more than just a tick in the winner’s column.
It was a match that opens up a new chapter for South African cricket after a turbulent two weeks leading up to the Test.
Not only did this revive the Proteas after their humiliation against India, but it also sends a beam of hope amongst cricket fans in South Africa.
The first session saw the contest delicately poised with England needing 205 runs to win and the Proteas hunting down seven wickets to claim a victory.
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The momentum continued to shift after the lunch break.
The first hour saw Joe Root start to build a decent partnership with Ben Stokes.
The pair pushed England closer to the 200-run mark, but it was Keshav Maharaj who switched the momentum back to the Proteas by dismissing Stokes on 14, by pitching it outside off and drifting it into the left-hander who mistimed his shot as the ball crashed into the stumps.
It sent the spinner into a sprint of celebration.
The new ball stirred up more problems for England, as Kagiso Rabada swung one away from Jonny Bairstow who edged it to Zubayr Hamza at gully.
Root was getting closer and closer to his half-century, but in came Anrich Nortje and he found a slight nick off the England captain’s bat to send him packing on 48.
With England on 232/6, it was now the Proteas’ game to lose.
England passed the 250-run mark but lost another wicket, as the Proteas continued to find breakthroughs at crucial times.
Rabada then cramped Sam Curran deep in his crease with a fuller-length delivery and the all-rounder nicked the ball to the Man of the Match, Quinton de Kock behind the stumps to send him packing on 9.
Nortje (3/56) then got his revenge against Jofra Archer – who slammed in short deliveries at the nightwatchman the previous day – and found his edge on 4 for his fourth of the day.
Rabada (4/103) then got his third, dismissing the only man who held hope for England, Jos Butler, who skied a delivery caught by Dwaine Pretorius in the deep on 22.
Rabada then finished off the English with a yorker to claim a 107-run win for his team.
Photo: Catherine Kotze/BackpagePix
