Herschelle Gibbs was imitating Usain Bolt from the dressing room. But there was nothing like a lightning bolt about the innings. The South African chase was just like their performance through this one day series – despondent. The fat lady seemed to be singing herself hoarse when Albie Morkel fell to a clean, clever caught and bowled by Samit Patel, the five wicket man. This is a run through of the dismal day.
When Albie Morkel walked off the pitch looking rather stunned and dejected in that order, South Africa’s collapse was all but complete. Rendered ineffective at the top of the order with Graeme Smith sitting out with tennis elbow, Hashim Amla was the only top order batsman who made an impact after being drafted in. his forty-six must seem like gold in light of the rest of the score card.
Six for 138 was where Morkel had hit two sixes but also, fell to Samit Patel’s agility. The truth of the matter was that South Africa were never really in the run chase. The fits and starts that epitomized their innings was never going to get them very far. If anything, England are edging close to them in the world rankings by the manner in which they are unraveling the South Africans and revealing the chinks.
The change of captaincy failed to bring anything new to the one dimensional South African approach of resignation. Kallis held the same doleful face as did Smith as he watched his team topple ignominiously at Trent Bridge. On the other hand, a coordinated, concerted effort from England first with the bat and then, more impressively with the ball, this was victory well deserved, both of the match and the series.
For the other half of this story, read:
South Africa Have their Backs to the Wall as Smith’s Elbow Gives Way!
