Steyn and Tahir complete innings victory
South Africa, dominant since the start of the second day, secured an innings and 12-run victory at The Oval
19/07Result
1st Test, South Africa tour of England at London, Jul 19-23 2012
-
![England]( "England")
385 & 240 (97 ov) -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
Player of the Match
19/07Result
1st Test, South Africa tour of England at London, Jul 19-23 2012
-
![England]( "England")
385 & 240 (97 ov) -
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
Player of the Match
Day 5
Crowds flock to final day
Key moments from the fith day of the 1st Investec Test between England and South Africa at The Oval
Kirsten focused on next hurdle
South Africa celebrated their first win at The Oval in 14 attempts without their captain Graeme Smith
The most comprehensive Test victory
For only the fifth time in Test history, a team won a match losing only two wickets
'We can take 20 wickets' - Strauss
England's bowlers took only two South African wickets at The Oval but Andrew Strauss backed them to take ten times as many in the final two Tests
Regularity brings rewards
Gary Kirsten has carefully developed the environment for South Africa to flourish, through consistency and togetherness
Bowlers set tone for victory - Smith
Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, praised an "incredible" innings from Hashim Amla and the exemplary performance of his bowlers
Losing at their own game
England were hammered playing attritional cricket in their own backyard - a defeat that may have signalled a power shift in Test cricket
England limitations exposed
Technical deficiencies on slow, dry pitches mean England have now lost five from nine
Day 4
South Africa surge after Amla's triple hundred
South Africa enjoyed the type of day teams dream of which ended with England staggering on 102 for 4 after being overwhelmed by the insatiable hunger of two batsmen
The silent triumph of Hashim Amla
He has long been an icon in South African cricket and now Hashim Amla has touched new territory for the country and secured a place in history
England No. 1 status hanging by a thread
After another chastening day, the alarm bells that sounded for England in the UAE are now roaring in their ears as their fallibility on slow, low pitches becomes evident again
Kallis dedicates great day to Boucher
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fourth day at The Oval
The joy of Test-match batting
Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis gave a lesson in Test match batting during their record stand, showcasing skills that can only be found in the game's original format
Amla, Kallis lead run deluge
Stats highlights from day four of the first Test at The Oval
The South African batting marathon - in stats
Some lesser-known facts and figures from an incredible day's cricket at The Oval
Smith's creativity brings rewards
When Graeme Smith declared South Africa's first innings he did something South African cricketers are not known for. He got creative
Day 3
Amla and Smith produce epic hundreds
Graeme Smith wrote himself another place in the history books with a century in his 100th Test and Hashim Amla batted throughout the third day
Blunted England facing pitch battle
England's main bowling weapons proved ineffective on a sluggish track and, although they have been in this position before, they must fight now to save the Test
Smith and Amla a study in contrasts
Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla both scored centuries on the third at The Oval but that is where the similarities stop for two vastly different batsmen
Remove Smith, but it's Kallis next
Plays of the Day from day two of the first Test between England and South Africa
Historic ton the fruit of Smith labours
Graeme Smith believes his side can push for victory after battling through a difficult spell to post an 'emotional' hundred in his 100th Test
Day 2
South Africa consolidate after bowlers fight back
This is what a contest for the No. 1 ranking should be like; intense, gripping and fluctuating
The dark ages at The Oval
The Test is beautifully poised, but the technology to combat weather conditions is sadly out of date
Anti-hero Steyn disproves mantra
He may profess to being just another member of the attack but Dale Steyn once again showed that leadership comes naturally
Swings and missed run-outs
Plays of the Day from the second day of the first Test between England and South Africa
England learn the hard reality
On a hard, unforgiving day of Test cricket, both sides came to appreciate some of the qualities that will lead to success in this series
South Africa awake to their task
The difference in South Africa's fast bowling Thursday to Friday was startling
Day 1
Cook hundred gives England control
Through Alastair Cook's 20th Test hundred, a chanceless innings, it was England who ended the opening day in control on a healthy 267 for 3
England - beauty in the eye of the beholder
England have endured some dark days at The Oval but Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott shared a partnership that demonstrates how far they have progressed
Sluggish South Africa lack innovation
South Africa's much-vaunted bowling attack endured a tough opening day of the series that left them scratching their heads for inspiration
Smith's tribute and tactics
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the first day at The Oval
Others
South Africans rise up Test rankings after Oval victory
South Africa's batsmen have surged up the ICC Test rankings and occupy four of the top six spots after their colossal performance in the first Test at The Oval
We didn't play like No. 1 - Anderson
James Anderson has admitted the pressure that comes with defending their No. 1 Test status is something England are still "coming to terms with"
Kallis, Steyn, and why the X-factor matters
As events at The Oval showed, greatness is the ability to bend and shape events by will, to dictate history rather than be dictated to by it
Time to offer Amla some cheesecake
I've not been inside Jonathan Trott's head for the last two days, but I bet he's had more than one nightmare in that time. You know the nightmare
Cricket, the England way
Unlike Australia or West Indies of previous generations, England's style is not that of domination or brutality. England do what English cricket teams have done since cricket was first civilized
The wristy joy of Amla
His batting is cause for celebration and his achievements reflect the greater cultural richness now evident in South Africa
Battle of the bowlers set to commence
ESPNcricinfo runs the rule over the key battles that could decide the England v South Africa series
Onions doubtful for first Test
Graham Onions' chances of playing in the first Test against South Africa were receded further when he was unable to train on Wednesday at the Oval because of a hamstring strain.
Top in touching distance for Smith
After 10 years as captain, Graeme Smith has another chance to take South Africa to the top of the world
A Test series that cricket needs
The Test series between England and South Africa features six of the world's top 10 Test bowlers and eight of the top 17 Test batsmen
Let the battle for No. 1 commence
Preview of the first Test of the series between England and South Africa at The Oval