Brazilians stay on target
to the lacklustre performance but we can’t be too emotional about it. We need a lot of hard work in the future and that’s what we need to do,” Proteas coach Mark Boucher said.
To England, and their captain Joe Root’s credit, they were cognisant of the pending weather disruptions all the time. It was for this reason they had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on for the first time since 2013 after running through their hosts in the morning session. South Africa lost their four remaining overnight wickets for the addition of just one run to be dismissed for 209. The deficit was exactly 290 runs.
This was partially reduced to 188 by stumps. Only captain Faf du Plessis offered prolonged resistance but he too succumbed to the unlikely figure of Root. The England skipper, bowling from the same Duck Pond End where Dom Bess claimed his maiden five-for in the first innings, passionately drove his team to what is likely to be a memorable victory.
With Mark Wood storming in from the Park Drive End and terrifying the Proteas batsmen, particularly a nervous-looking Zubayr Hamza, with his vicious pace and bounce, Root simply picked them off like a hyena feeding off an exposed carcass on the other end.
He closed off with careerbest figures of 4/31 – a drastic improvement on his previous 2/9.
Du Plessis tried valiantly. He defended stoically like we know he can, and was desperate to see out the day at least. However, Du Plessis’ decision to review his dismissal when it was clear as daylight that he had edged the ball on to his pad was the manifestation that the skipper was no longer thinking clearly but rather in desperation and hope.
THE crown might be sitting a little loose on the head but the Brazilians are not going to be dethroned without a fight.
This victory over SuperSport would have send a stern warning to Kaizer Chiefs that they will have to work very hard for the Absa Premiership title.
Granted Amakhosi enjoy a lead at the top of the table, but now down to seven points with 12 matches to go. There is a lot to play for still and nothing can be taken for granted before the curtain comes down on the season.
In completing the league double over their Tshwane neighbours, Sundowns showed that they are able to dust themselves up from a fall and that should have Amakhosi a little worried.
Beaten 1-0 by Orlando Pirates in midweek, this match was always going to be a true test of the champions’ ability to bounce back.
That loss was Sundowns’ first against Pirates since 2011 and the impact of it could have had far reaching consequences.
Against a SuperSport side also challenging for the league title, Sundowns had to be at their best.
And they were, the Brazilians generally controlling the tempo of the match and always looking the most likely to score.
No doubt inspired by the fact that Chiefs had dropped points on Saturday by drawing at Black Leopards, Sundowns went for broke early on although the first chance 20 was created by the home side.
SuperSport should have scored on 20 minutes after Dean Furman won the ball from Hlompho Kekana in midfield and sent Evans Rusike sailing. The Zimbabwean cut in to his left, beating two defenders before shooting low but too tamely to beat Dennis Onyango.
Sundowns did not waste their first chance even though the goal should have been disallowed for offside.
Themba Zwane slotted home his seventh goal of the season from close range following a fantastic cross from Teboho Langerman on the left that Sibusiso Vilakazi headed towards the scorer, who was offside.
Thapelo Morena should have made it 2-0 four minutes later but shot wide after Ronwen Williams gave the ball away under pressure from Vilakazi.
Early in the second half SuperSport equalised via a well-taken penalty by Furman after Andile Jali had sent Kuda Mahachi tumbling in the box.
But Sundowns responded well and scored the winner on 65 minutes via Morena’s superb strike, connecting to a good cross by Kekana.
Try as they could to get the equaliser, SuperSport were just not good enough to prise their adversaries’ defence.