S. Africa beats England for 1-0 lead
Source: AFP |
July 24, 2012, Tuesday
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SOUTH Africa yesterday took a one-nil lead in the three-match series against England, beating the hosts by an innings and 12 runs and securing its first win at the Oval after a masterful display of top-order batting.
Hashim Amla's unbeaten 311, ably supported by 182 not out from veteran allrounder Jacques Kallis and 131 from Graeme Smith took the Proteas to 637 for 2 before they declared, setting England a target of 252 to make them bat again. Amla said a triple century had not been on his mind until he reached 250.
"I didn't dream about getting 300," he said. "I've always been a person who never sets goals. In many ways that helps you because you can keep going without being limited."
With England resuming on 102 for four on the final day, the hosts were always facing an uphill battle to save the game and, despite some resistance from Ian Bell (55) and Matt Prior (40), the task ultimately proved impossible.
England, however, had managed to survive the first session virtually unscathed, moving to 177 for five at lunch, with the only wicket to fall that of Ravi Bopara, who was bowled off an inside edge by Dale Steyn for 22.
Steyn bowled an accurate spell at the start of the day but his wicket came off a short, wide ball, which Bopara tried to punch to the off side, only to get a thick inside edge which caused the ball to crash into his stumps. Bell and Bopara put on 50 for the fifth wicket.
Hashim Amla's unbeaten 311, ably supported by 182 not out from veteran allrounder Jacques Kallis and 131 from Graeme Smith took the Proteas to 637 for 2 before they declared, setting England a target of 252 to make them bat again. Amla said a triple century had not been on his mind until he reached 250.
"I didn't dream about getting 300," he said. "I've always been a person who never sets goals. In many ways that helps you because you can keep going without being limited."
With England resuming on 102 for four on the final day, the hosts were always facing an uphill battle to save the game and, despite some resistance from Ian Bell (55) and Matt Prior (40), the task ultimately proved impossible.
England, however, had managed to survive the first session virtually unscathed, moving to 177 for five at lunch, with the only wicket to fall that of Ravi Bopara, who was bowled off an inside edge by Dale Steyn for 22.
Steyn bowled an accurate spell at the start of the day but his wicket came off a short, wide ball, which Bopara tried to punch to the off side, only to get a thick inside edge which caused the ball to crash into his stumps. Bell and Bopara put on 50 for the fifth wicket.
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