Broad finished with figures of 6-17 off 12.1 overs
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
South Africa’s reign as the top-ranked Test team came to an end on Saturday as a result of England pace bowler Stuart Broad’s incredible six-wicket haul on the third day of the third Test in Johannesburg.
None of South Africa’s batsmen had a clue on how to play Broad and the tourists subsequently went on to win the match by seven wickets.
Starting out the day on 238/5, England lost Joe Root early on before Jonny Bairstow took over and made a solid 45. With some small, but useful, contributions from Moeen Ali and Broad, England ended up making 323 before they were bowled out, which gave them a 10-run lead.
Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Morne Morkel snapped up three and Chris Morris and debutant Hardus Viljoen chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Rabada claimed his maiden five-wicket haul
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Trailing by 10 runs, the Proteas struggled right from the get-go as Broad sliced through their top and middle order with ease.
Rabada was South Africa’s top-scorer with 16 runs, while Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis and Stiaan van Zyl were the only other batsmen to reach double figures. As a result, South Africa were bowled out for 83, which is their lowest total on home soil since their readmission to international cricket in 1992. To make matters worse, England required just 74 runs to win the match and series as well.
Broad was easily the most successful bowler with six wickets, while Ben Stokes got two and James Anderson and Steven Finn claimed one wicket each.
Chasing 74 to win, England got off to a fantastic start as captain Alastair Cook and Alex Hales amassed a 64-run partnership before Hales was given out lbw off the bowling of Elgar for 18.
Compton was dismissed without scoring, while Cook was caught behind off the bowling of Morris for 43.
Despite their valiant effort, South Africa ended up losing the match by seven wickets and England secured an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into the fourth and final Test in Centurion.
Elgar claimed two wickets, while Morris picked up one.
South Africa captain AB de Villiers was less than impressed with his side’s performance, and said: “I thought it was a good toss to win. There were quite a few soft dismissals. It was a 400+ wicket but we didn’t make it count. You were never in, but they didn’t bowl us out in the first. They did in the second. [From 90-4] We didn’t nail it down, there were a few areas we could have played better cricket. [Broad] I haven’t seen a team play like that in a long time. There’s a lot still to play for, it’s just my first match as captain and I have a lot of motivation. We’ll need a few good meetings about the way we are going.”
Cook was thrilled to have clinched the series, and said: “We didn’t quite get it right first thing. But didn’t go for too many runs. The guys bounced back. 300 was about par. Rooty was exceptional and then it was over to Stuart and Jimmy…Broady got on one of his rolls. One of those days we’ll look back on for a long time. I don’t tell Stokesy anything, I just let him play. Those two did the same against NZ last year. The stand got us back into the game. When it’s level on third innings on a wicket like that it’s always hard. Credit to the lads, it’s been a great tour. They can be really proud. You can never be satisfied but tonight’s not the time for that. Andrew Strauss has told us to have a big night, so if he’s said it we will.”
Broad was named Man of the Match, and said: “I was a bit under the weather. Everyone we know has been ill. The doctor got me over it. The guys bowled well to cover my absence. I bowled a bit too short in the first innings so we had a chat before the second innings about bringing the batsman forward to a fuller length. We got lucky, we got some cloud and the lights were on. But we got the ball in the right areas and took our catches. It’s been a fantastic day for us. I was quite tired towards the end. The air’s a bit thinner. It was a good day to bowl. I wish I could take that wicket around with us.”