30/07Result
3rd Test, South Africa tour of England at Birmingham, Jul 30-Aug 2 2008
South Africa won by 5 wkts
Player of the Match
Graeme SmithSouth Africa
30/07Result
3rd Test, South Africa tour of England at Birmingham, Jul 30-Aug 2 2008
South Africa won by 5 wkts
Player of the Match
Graeme SmithSouth Africa

END OF OVER:
80 | 4 Runs | SA: 283/5

  • Graeme Smith154 (246b)
  • Mark Boucher45 (85b)
  • Kevin Pietersen4-0-16-0
  • Monty Panesar33-3-91-2

Well, what a fantastic Test this has been at Edgbaston, with South Africa coming out on top to take the series 2-0 and leave the Oval match a dead rubber. It's the first time since 1965 they have defeated England in a series on English soil and they are worthy winners. Ntini takes a stump now and starts dancing around. Here's Smith. "I don't know what to say. England made us really work hard for it today. We didn't bowl as well yesterday, their batters put the pressure on us. It's a proud day." Is this his best moment? "I've got some individual ones that mean a lot to me but for the team, what we've achieved, it's right up there. England made us fight for this one. If England had won this one the Oval might have been difficult for us. I'm just very happy." And so he should be, it's been a gutsy, gritty and fighting innings, a true captain's knock in the best sense. Thank you for joining us over the course of this Test and do tune in to see if England can salvage a win at the Oval in the fourth and final match next week. Till then, it's goodbye.

79.6
4
Pietersen to Smith, FOUR, but he does it finally! Smith pulls it round through midwicket and South Africa have the series! The players are invading the pitch now to start the celebrations, England's body language muted by contrast
79.5
0
Pietersen to Smith, no run, this is half-amusing, half-painful, Smith goes for it again
79.4
0
Pietersen to Smith, no run, on the legs, looks to push it to the legs
79.3
0
Pietersen to Smith, no run, pushed to the covers

Smiles all round, even from Smith

79.2
0
Pietersen to Smith, no run, that would have been a touch ignominous - Smith missing the half-tracker with a big whoosh
79.1
0
Pietersen to Smith, no run, round the wicket, pushed out to the covers and they don't risk it

So it's all eyes on Smith to see if he can finish things off for South Africa now. The team are huddled ready to celebrate winning the game and the series - they've not won a series in England since 1965.

END OF OVER:
79 | 2 Runs | SA: 279/5

  • Mark Boucher45 (85b)
  • Graeme Smith150 (240b)
  • Monty Panesar33-3-91-2
  • Kevin Pietersen3-0-12-0
78.6
0
Panesar to Boucher, no run, defended back down quickly into the turf
78.5
1lb
Panesar to Smith, 1 leg bye, a big appeal, not given, hit outside the line playing a shot, and they shuffle through for a leg-bye
78.4
0
Panesar to Smith, no run, and he goes for it! Down on one knee and sends his team's hearts into their mouths there as he completely misses the sweep. That's the only tension remaining

It would be fitting if Smith could knock off the runs

South Africa tour of England 2008 News

South Africa 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st65ND McKenzieGC Smith
2nd13HM AmlaGC Smith
3rd5JH KallisGC Smith
4th10AG PrinceGC Smith
5th78GC SmithAB de Villiers
6th112MV BoucherGC Smith