On this day in 2019: South Africa break their 12-month drought in Tests with a win
On this day, back in 2019, England and South Africa faced each other for a match that ended the latter team’s drought of almost 12 months in Tests. The host nation and Englishmen locked horns with each other at Centurion for the 1st Test of the four-match series. On being invited to bat first, Faf du Plessis and company managed to put up 284 runs on the board.
Quinton de Kock’s scintillating knock of 95 runs became the very base of South Africa’s batting line up. The wicketkeeper-batsman was looking all determined to bag a brilliant ton before Sam Curran sent him back. Three batsmen from their side, namely Zubayr Hamza, Dwaine Pretorius, and Vernon Philander, managed 30s but failed to kick on.
ICMYI
Quinton De Kock Scored 95 Runs Off 128 Balls On Day 1 Of First Test Against England ?#Cricket | #SAvENG | pic.twitter.com/6xPiT2qCr0
— Cricerz ? (@Cricerz) December 26, 2019
Stuart Broad and Sam Curran were in their prime class as they collected a four-wicket haul. James Anderson had one wicket in his name but got a breakthrough on the very first ball of the game. He sent back opener Dean Elgar for a golden duck. Chasing the target, the visitors got bundled up too quickly for just 181 runs. Joe Denly’s half-century turned out to be the highest individual score from their side.
Ace speedster Kagiso Rabada named three scalps to his credit, while Vernon Philander turned out to be a hero from their bowling section. He had a four-fer to his credit and ruptured the batting set up of visitors by picking some big wickets of Joe Root and Jos Buttler. The Proteas team walked the field for their second innings, and this time, they put up 272 runs on the board setting the target of 376 runs for England. Rassie van der Dussen’s knock of 51 runs and Vernon Philander’s knock of 46 runs pushed S. Africa towards a big score.
During the second innings, the bowling showman from the English side was Jofra Archer, who bagged a prestigious five-wicket haul to shake South Africa. However, when England batters came to bat again, they had intent and determination missing, and there began their dismal show. Rory Burns’ knock of 84 runs and Root’s 48 turned out to be some bright spots from their batting set up. The rest of the batters even struggled to touch the 30s.
The entire team got wrapped up on 268 runs and handed over a 107 runs win to South Africa after too long. Kagiso Rabada picked four wickets for the Proteas team in the final innings. Quinton de Kock was named as the player of the match for his brilliant show in the first innings.
