Showing posts with label Proteas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proteas. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

England beat S Africa by 241 runs



England beat S Africa by 241 runs
England claimed six wickets for just 38 runs on day five of the first Test against South Africa to seal an emphatic 241-run win in Durban, reports BBC. South Africa resumed on 136-4 in search of a distant 416 but lost four wickets for seven runs in the first nine overs. Moeen Ali removed dangerman AB de Villiers with the third ball and Steven Finn finished with 4-42 as the hosts were all out before lunch for 174. The second of the four-match series begins in Cape Town on Saturday. It was only England's second Test victory away from home since 2012 and their largest in terms of runs against South Africa since the Proteas were readmitted to international cricket in 1991. In contrast it was a fourth defeat in the past five Tests for South Africa, whose position at the top of the Test rankings is under increasing threat from India. The South Africans have gone seven matches without a Test victory, which equals their longest run without a win since their readmission. In the 138-year history of Test cricket, only three teams have avoided defeat from being four wickets down on the final day. And it soon became apparent South Africa would not alter that statistic when star batsman De Villiers missed a turning off-break from Moeen and was given out lbw and upheld on review.

Friday, December 25, 2015

South Africa vs England: Chris Woakes to start in first Test

Chris Woakes will replace the injured James Anderson in England's bowling attack when the four-match series against South Africa begins in Durban on Saturday. Warwickshire's Woakes will play his first Test match in 16 months, after Anderson suffered a calf injury. Alex Hales, 26, is set to make his Test debut and will be the eighth opener to partner Alastair Cook since 2012. South Africa are ranked number one but lost their last series in India 3-0. An England victory by any scoreline would see South Africa lose top spot to India, while only a win will ensure captain Alastair Cook's men improve their ranking of sixth. However, England have won only one series in South Africa since the Proteas were readmitted to Test cricket in 1991 and Cook's side have triumphed only once in their last 15 overseas Tests.