Proteas Beat Australians In Record Breaking Test

Today the South African cricket team managed to record an amazing victory over the Australians at Perth. Several landmarks were achieved during the victory; the victory marked Graeme Smith's first victory over Australia as South African captain, Smith also managed to record his first hundred against Australia, AB de Villiers achieved the same feat and JP Duminy, making his debut, scored a remarkable fifty.

After a shaky start in the first innings after being reduced to 15 for the loss of three wickets Australia manage to score a healthy 375 after some good batting by their tail. The South Africans then managed to score 281 after Mitchell Johnson bowled one of the greatest spells ever seen at the WACA to record figures of 8 for 61.

With a lead of 94 the Australians would have wanted to push on and record a high total, however, the South african bowlers never really allowed them to push on and the only real resistance came from Brad Haddin who managed 94. Paul Harris and Jacques Kallis bowled tight lines and both were rewarded with three wickets apiece.

South Africa bowled the Australians out for 319 and were set a target of 414 to win; the second highest in test history. Victory seemed impossible and was made more unlikely when Neil Mckenzie failed for the second time in the match when he went out early. However, Smith and Hashim Amla had different plans and managed to put together a possible match winning stand of 153. Smith also managed to bring up his first test hundred against Australia.

However, both batsmen fell in quick succession bringing Kallis and De Villiers together with the score at 3-179. The pair batted amazingly well together and scored freely to put together a partnership of 124 before Kallis was dismissed on the fifth morning for a well played 57.

This bought in Duminy, making his test debut. After failing in the first innings the pressure was really on the young mans shoulders. De Villiers and Duminy batted extremely well showing experience well beyond their years, making it through the assaults by Johnson and Brett Lee to carry South Africa through to victory.

In doing so, De Villiers made his first test century against Australia and Duminy managed his first test half century.

South Africa can take many positives from this match. They managed to chase down the second highest target in test cricket history against the best team in the world. Smith has finally found form against a side he has struggled against in the past and the top six excluding Mckenzie all managed to make good contributions.

The South Africans would do well to keep up this momentum in the second and third tests. they have an extremely good chance of winning this series against a rather under strength Australian team and this is definitely their best chance of finally being able to record a series win over the Australians.