Proteas stump England to go level
‘We did the basics better this time’
Nottingham – South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said his side had gone back to basics in a commanding 340-run win over England in the second Test at Trent Bridge.
Victory saw the Proteas bounce back in style after they suffered a 211-run defeat in the first of a four-match series at Lord’s.
“We did the basics a lot better and put England under pressure for long periods,” Du Plessis said.
“We focused on getting back to things this side does really well,” he added of a South Africa side with a proud away record of just one series loss in their 19 previous Test campaigns on the road.
Du Plessis took the bold decision to bat first after winning the toss at Trent Bridge, a ground known for aiding swing bowlers, and was rewarded with a competitive total of 335 all out.
With South Africa coach Russell Domingo missing this match following the death of his mother, and the attack without fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, banned for one game, the Proteas then dismissed England for 205.
Du Plessis’s painstaking 63 helped South Africa to a second innings total of 343/9 declared. That left England needing a mammoth 474 for victory. England, however, collapsed to 133 all out.
Vernon Philander, the man-of-the-match, led South Africa’s attack with three wickets for 24 runs in 10 overs of accurate fast-medium bowling.
“There were periods in the first Test when we played well but then let England dominate us,” said du Plessis.
The Proteas now have a nine-day break until the start of the third Test at The Oval on July 27. –