South Africa batting power brings emphatic win

11/11/2011

The South African cricket team showed its batting power ahead of next summer's tour of England, with Hashim Amla and captain Graeme Smith scoring centuries as they cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Australia in Cape Town today (November 11th).

Fans booking corporate hospitality for the Test match at the Kia Oval between the two best sides in the world may already have noted the astonishing feat of the South African bowling attack in blowing away their opponents for just 47.

And having made just 96 themselves on an astonishing second day when 23 wickets fell, the home side's batsmen put things right as Amla (112) and Smith (101 not out) saw the side reach their target of 236 with ease.

Next year's Oval Test may be the decider of whether England stay as number one, as the last of three matches following clashes at Lords and Headingley.

South Africa's victory was the first Test since 2003 in which a side had been bowled out for under 100 and still managed to win.

By Sam Smith