SA Beat England In First Test Of 4-Match Cricket Series

South Africa comprehensively thrashed England by 107 runs in the Boxing Day Test on Sunday afternoon with a day and a session to spare in Centurion to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series and secure their first victory in five Tests.

South Africa were convincing as England collapsed with a day and a session to spare in Centurion.

The tourists, needing to complete a record chase of 376, resumed on 121-1 but were bowled out for 268, with Kagiso Rabada taking 4-103.

South Africa may have been low on confidence but, in their own conditions, with the pace of Rabada and Nortje and Philander’s accuracy, they are tough to beat.

South Africa had lost its last five Test and had rushed in a new coaching team led by Mark Boucher to stabilise a struggling ship less than two weeks before the start of the England series.

Behind the scenes of this famous victory, South African cricket is in turmoil with the chief executive of the national board suspended on allegations of misconduct and fellow executives resigning in protest at his leadership.

There are three more Tests to come in the series with the second Test of the four-match series beginning on Friday in Cape Town.

By Gerald Dandah