‘Relentless’ Proteas thrash Aussies to clinch series Down Under
The Proteas are the first team to win three consecutive series in Australia since the legendary West Indies teams of the 1980s and 90s.
|||Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada triggered an Australian collapse of epic proportions to bowl South Africa to a historic series victory at the Bellerive Oval.
The Proteas bowlers created a cauldron of pressure on the Aussie batsmen through intense spells of penetrative seam bowling on this fourth morning.
The South Africans bowlers initially kept it tight before barging through the door after overnight batsman Usman Khawaja (64) edged Abbott behind. This was the start of horror collapse that saw the Aussies lose eight wickets for 32 runs in 19.2 overs
The chief destroyers were Abbott, who snared 6/77, and Rabada who finished with 4/34, with the latter claiming four wickets for just seven runs in seven overs this morning.
Abbott was named Man of the Match for his match haul of 9/118.
After their 2008 and 2012 successes, the Proteas are the first team to win three consecutive series here in Australia since the legendary West Indies teams of the 1980s and 90s.
“To come here and win 2-0 is special. Proud of the way the team is moving forward. It’s really special for us to do this,” captain Faf du Plessis said at the post-match presentation.
“We rocked up today, wanted to come back and be relentless. All our bowlers were exceptional. I am so happy for Abbo. He won a massive game of cricket for us.
“Vern too, on a wicket like that, doesn’t give you much to hit. Set the tone for us. Our catching was phenomenonal. We are relentless. We give nothing away.”
Independent Media