Michael Vaughan enjoyed his first victory as England Test captain here on Monday as South Africa were beaten by 70 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge on the fifth and final day.
England debutant James Kirtley did the damage on Monday, the Sussex paceman taking six for 34 as South Africa, chasing 202 to win, were bowled out for 131 before lunch.
The result saw England level the five-match series at 1-1 and put behind them the memory of Vaughan’s first match in charge, the second Test at Lord’s, where they suffered an innings and 92 run thrashing.
England now head into Thursday’s fourth Test at Headingley with high hopes of repeating their 1998 home effort when, having been 1-0 down, they beat South Africa 2-1.
The Proteas resumed on 63 for five, still needing another 139 runs for victory, with first innings heroes Neil McKenzie six not out and Mark Boucher nine not out.
But, on a pitch where man-of-the-match Kirtley’s action often led to low-bouncing balls which made batting difficult, there was to be no repeat of the pair’s 129 sixth wicket stand that guided the Proteas to 362 first time around.
Kirtley bowled McKenzie — who in his first match of the series had made 90 in the first innings — for 11, South Africa 71 for six.
All-rounder Shaun Pollock had made a defiant 62 and then taken six for 39 as England were bowled out for a meagre 118 in their second innings.
But Pollock, who will be absent from Headingley to be with his pregnant wife Tricia, who is expecting the couple’s first child, was powerless to resist as the Proteas lost their seventh wicket eight balls after their sixth.
Former captain Pollock went for a four ball nought, bowled by an Andrew Flintoff delivery that barely lifted off the pitch. South Africa were now 80 for seven.
The collapse continued when Andrew Hall went for a first ball nought, an edged drive off Kirtley well caught by Marcus Trescothick at first slip.
South Africa were now 81 for eight with Kirtley (28) who had fought back from the stigma of having his action reported to the International Cricket Council, taking two for one in eight balls.
Paul Adams was dropped on one by second slip Mark Butcher off Kirtley, the new boy denied his fifth wicket of the innings.
Meanwhile wicket-keeper Boucher remained defiant, even off-driving Kirtley for four, as a packed crowd roared England home in Trent Bridge’s 50th Test.
Vice-captain Boucher’s two off James Anderson brought up his fifty in 85 balls including seven fours.
But Kirtley’s fourth ball back then saw him lure Adams (15) into a simple caught and bowled dismissal before he wrapped when he had Boucher caught behind by wicket-keeper Alec Stewart for 52. – Sapa-AFP