England took just more than half an hour to wrap up the first Castle Lager/MTN Test against South Africa at St George’s Park on Tuesday, to take a one-nil lead in the five-Test series.
England started the final morning needing just 49 runs to reach their target of 142, with seven wickets in hand.
The South Africans struggled in vain, but Andrew Strauss and Graham Thorpe calmly picked off the runs without raising a sweat.
Strauss, who made 126 in the first innings, finished on 94 and Graham Thorpe on 31. They had shared a partnership of 95.
South African-born Strauss, who has scored a century in the first innings of every series he has played in, was named man of the match.
England had looked the stronger team throughout the match, and while South Africa showed some fighting spirit, they were never able to impose their dominance over England. A rash of no-balls and a Keystone Cops half-hour, in which catches were dropped and run-outs missed, cost South Africa dear.
The South African team for the second Test are expected to be announced later in the day, and some changes are expected.
Opener Herschelle Gibbs is reported to be fit again, as is spin bowler Nicky Boje. — Sapa