Smith and Amla lead SA to eight-wicket victory

A 195-run second-wicket partnership between Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla led South Africa to an eight-wicket victory over Australia in the first of two Tests at Newlands on Friday.

Needing 236 for victory, Smith and Amla went about their run chase with haste and flair on the third and final day, proving there was nothing wrong with the pitch.

After an extraordinary second day of cricket with 23 wickets falling for 294 runs, the balance swung from one side to the other.

South Africa started the third morning at 81/1 and Smith and Amla went on to set a new second-wicket partnership for South Africa against Australia.

Amla scored his first hundred against the Baggy Greens—his 13th in his career—and his 112-run contribution took him past 4 000 Test runs.

He had his luck along the way, when he was dropped on 29 by Michael Hussey in the gully and on 30 by Shane Watson at first slip, but he deserved his standing ovation after his fortune finally ran out.

Amla edged a delivery from Mitchell Johnson to Michael Clarke at gully, with the hosts needing 14 runs to win.

Smith finished unbeaten on 101 for his 23rd ton and his second against Australia.

It was the second highest successful run chase, in a fourth innings, at Newlands.—Sapa