OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Wednesday 3.45pm.
SOUTH Africa have claimed a series win over England in the fourth Test at Newlands, wreaking havoc with the ball and bowling out the visitors for 126 runs in their second innings, victory by an innings and 37 runs.
The South Africans scored 421 runs in their first-innings, a hard target for England to chase. The tourists, however, showed in their first-innings that they are capable of posting large scores.
On Wednesday, however, there was little to suggest another 115-run opening partnership, and England’s openers, Mark Butcher and Mike Atherton were dismissed cheaply.
Butcher was the first to take the long walk back to the hut. He was dismissed for only four runs by Shaun Pollock, who had him caught behind by Mark Boucher.
With Nasser Hussain joining Mike Atherton at the crease, it was always possible that a large plunder could be expected. Sri Lankan umpire BC Cooray, however, nipped all thoughts of a skipper’s conquest in the bud when he shockingly gave Hussain out leg-before for 16 to a delivery from Lance Klusener that clearly hit the outside edge.
Klusener struck again ten overs later when he legitimately removed Michael Vaughan for five runs. Vaughan edged a sharp, rising delivery and Mark Boucher was up to the task.
Vaughan’s dismissal took England to lunch on 60/3.
Shaun Pollock had the better of Mike Atherton, bowling him two beauties followed by a delivery which forced him into a false stroke. Daryll Cullinan at second slip took the catch. Atherton scored 35 runs in his innings of 109 balls.
Allan Donald picked up his 290th Test wicket, when he dismissed Andy Caddick for 14 runs, after Caddick slashed at a short delivery and played it straight to Herschelle Gibbs at short-midwicket.
Paul Adams, who bowled absolutely superbly, bagged the scalps of Alec Stewart and Chris Adams who looked out of sorts against the outlandish action of the little spinner. Stewart tried to whip a fullish delivery away, but was clean bowled for 5, while Adams played onto his stumps for 31.
Only four England batsmen could manage double figures.
Jacques Kallis took the wicket Darren Gough, and at that stage it was all over bar the shouting. Donald took a superb catch to see Gough on his way back to the pavilion for eight.
The last wicjket to fall was that of Phil Tufnell who was caught at second slip by man-of-the-match Daryll Cullinan for a duck.
England second innings:
MA Butcher c Boucher b Pollock 4
MA Atherton c Cullinan b Pollock 35
*N Hussain lbw b Klusener 16
MP Vaughan c Boucher b Klusener 5
+AJ Stewart b Adams 5
CJ Adams b Adams 31
AR Caddick c Gibbs b Donald 14
D Gough c Donald b Kallis 8
CEW Silverwood not out 5
PCR Tufnell c Cullinan b Adams 0
A Flintoff absent hurt –
Extras (lb 3) 3
Total (all out, 60.3 overs, 246 mins) 126