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Chokers No More: SA Wins Test Series |
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Pitched By Cricket360 Analyst
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Monday, 25 August 2008 |
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South Africa won by 5 wickets against England in the third test match played at Edgbaston. The Proteas claim the series in their name standing 2-0 against England with one match still left to be played. The match goes beyond yet another series victory for arguably the world’s best test side. This is South Africa’s first test series victory in England since they came back into the game after abolition of apartheid.
The choker badge is off the South African shoulder with this match. They have been on the brink of winning a test series against England on their soil thrice (2003, 1998, and 1994) but always ended up either losing or drawing the series. This test victory registers Graeme Smith’s name in the history as the captain of the side which defeated England on their home turf after 43 years. Smith’s role in the victory wasn’t limited to a captain’s job. He scored 154*, his sixteenth and probably the most important century of his career. His 112-run stand for the sixth wicket with Mark Boucher gave South Africa the much needed impetus when they were struggling at 171-5.
Smith displayed character at a time when the top order batsmen McKenzie and Kallis had fallen to Flintoff and the middle order batsmen Amla and Prince had been shown the door for single figures. De Villiers provided the much needed buoyant force to the captain’s knock.
Anyway the target of 281 wasn’t Everest to climb and England is understandably upset after this defeat. Captain Michael Vaughan admits that they tried everything possible in their capacity to stop the Proteas and ended up getting batting lessons from the tourists.
Vaughan, who expecting his side to show some game before the next year’s Ashes must now be up to play for pride in the next match. His captaincy is now under threat with his side failing to score 281 to save the series. He wants “dust to settle” before he can comment on his eligibility to continue as a captain.
South Africa complained about the undue advantage Flintoff got while bowling from Pavillion End with a window below his arm while England is cribbing about not using the Referral System to their full advantage. South Africa must be fully charged to take on the home side in the next match in the Oval and clinch the series in a whitewash.
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