Proteas best since 1991
2008-08-03 22:11
Altus Momberg
Birmingham - The Proteas, in clinching a series victory over England here on Saturday, completed South Africa's best performance since the country's return to international cricket in 1991.
Captain Graeme Smith hammered a magnificent unbeaten 154 to take the South Africans to 283/5, a five-wicket victory and a 2-0 series lead after the third of four Test matches.
The final Test in the series starts at the Oval in London on Thursday.
Since unification in SA cricket, the Proteas have now recorded series wins in all major cricket-playing countries, except Australia.
The defeat of England means a great deal to the Proteas and their supporters.
The English are South Africa's traditional enemies on the cricket field and only an away victory over Australia or a World Cup triumph could mean more than this performance.
The series win in India in 2000 was also a fantastic achievement but it lost much of its brilliance because it was the one that led to Hansie Cronjé's demise.
The Proteas have now beaten England in an away series for the first time since 1965, when Graeme Pollock scored 125 on a wet and almost unplayable Trent Bridge wicket. His innings is still regarded as one of the best in SA cricket history.
Incredible innings
Now, 43 years later, another truly great innings by another South African named Graeme set the scene for another series win in England.
By scoring 154 not out and retaining his concentration amidst sightscreen problems, Smith showed immense willpower.
It was an incredible innings in the context of the match as well as the series after SA teams had failed three times during the past 14 years to convert good opportunities into series victories.
This time one could see that Smith and his veteran partner Mark Boucher were determined not to let it happen again.
Smith had started the match with a back injury and he needed daily treatment to ease the pain.
He also had to face England's talented left-arm spinner Monty Panesar who often pitched the ball into some of the several footmarks on a deteriorating pitch.
Smith made sure that his right leg was well down the track and well outside the off-stump every time before turning the ball to the leg-side. This neutralised the danger of a leg-before-wicket dismissal.
Panesar, England's most dangerous bowler in the final innings, showed his frustration when he shouted at Smith, "How do you do that?" after the SA skipper had again turned the ball past a group of leg-side fielders.