A tired but elated Proteas cricket team flew into OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday night carrying two silver trophies from their tour of Pakistan. The South Africans won the Test series one-nil, and secured a three-two victory in the one-day international (ODI) series with a thrilling win in Lahore on Monday.
”It was a hugely successful tour — it was tremendous to be the team that has gone across to the sub-continent and won both series — we all feel we have achieved something special,” enthused Proteas captain Graeme Smith.
”Having been there, and played there a number of times, not only in Pakistan, but in India and Sri Lanka — we know how tough it is to do well on the sub-continent, so we are obviously very pleased with our achievement. To have won both series is a fantastic feat.
Smith said the Test series victory was particularly pleasing for the team.
”We won a one-day series there in 2003, but to go there and win a Test series is something special,” he said.
”The wickets weren’t anything like we’re used to in South Africa — they were slow turners, they were flat, so for us to have taken the risks that we did and for our game plans to have worked the way they did was unbelievable.
”Our top six put the work in and put the runs on the board, which allowed us to attack. Paul Harris really stood out on his first tour of the sub-continent and he allowed Makhaya [Ntini] and Andre Nel to attack from the other end.
”It’s great going forward for us. We know we’ve got a very tough season ahead, but we see it as a season of opportunities, and we’ve started it in the best possible way.” – Sapa