Ali spins England to crushing win over Proteas in Durban
31 Dec 2015 10:19 PM GMT
Moeen Ali spun England to a crushing 241-run win over South Africa on the fifth and final day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Wednesday (December 30). Off-spinner Ali took three early wickets as South Africa lost their last six wickets for 38 runs.
Starting the day on 136 for four, South Africa lost batting kingpin AB de Villiers leg before to the third ball of the day when he went back on his stumps to a ball from Ali which skidded through and hit him low on his pads. With the third ball of his next over, Ali struck again when Temba Bavuma skipped down the wicket to a ball which drifted past his bat to provide Jonny Bairstow with an easy stumping.
Including the wicket of Faf du Plessis, who fell to Steven Finn with what proved to be the last wicket of the fourth day, three wickets had fallen for no runs. Only two more runs were scored before Finn bowled nightwatchman Dale Steyn. Ali claimed his third wicket of the morning when Kyle Abbott, like De Villiers, went back on his stumps and was out leg before.
JP Duminy, one of the batsmen whose form has been a concern for South Africa, made 26 not out before Stuart Broad wrapped up the win by trapping Morne Morkel in front.
It was a decisive win for England, who went into the series in fifth place on the Test rankings, whileÂ
top-ranked South Africa suffered a continuation of the batting woes they suffered while being beaten 3-0 in a recent four-Test series in India.
England batted better than South Africa, with most of their batsmen making useful contributions, while Broad, Finn and Ali spearheaded their bowling. Broad created early havoc in South Africa’s first innings, while Finn’s three wickets on the fourth day were decisive blows.Â
Ali’s consistency while bowling long spells enabled England captain Alastair Cook to rotate his fast bowlers and Ali finished with match figures of seven for 116. Finn took six wickets in the match and Broad five.
SA add two players to squad for 2nd test against England
South Africa added wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and fast bowler Chris Morris to their squad for the second test against England, which starts in Cape Town on Saturday, just minutes after being beaten in the first match in Durban on Wednesday. Uncertainty over the fitness of world’s top test bowler Dale Steyn has seen selectors add Morris while de Kock’s inclusion suggests that AB de Villiers might not be required to keep wickets again and will instead be allowed to concentrate on his batting. De Villiers had returned with the gloves behind the wickets for the first test in Durban to allow South Africa to add an extra batsman in their line-up but the team scored 214 and 174 in their two innings.
Next Story
