Easy victory for SA at Newlands

Despite an heroic 109 from Dean Brownlie it was an easy victory for South Africa by an innings and 27 runs on day three of the first test against New Zealand at Newlands in Cape Town.

169/4 overnight, Brownlie and Watling took the score 225 before Morkel forced Brownlie to sky one to Petersen at deep mid-off and and that was the beginning of the end as wickets fell at regular intervals with Philander eventually getting in on the act with two wickets and Steyn taking the other two before a stupid run out ended the Black Caps second innings 27 runs short on 275.

Boult nicked a ball to the backward square leg boundary and called for  second run but the bullet arm of Dale Styen left Martin half a meter short and he was run out without facing a delivery.

The Proteas go to Port Elizabeth for the second test in another silly two test series, one up and they stay clear at number one in the world rankings. That test starts on the 11th January.

At the SCG in Sydney the Sri Lankans paid their respects to an other retiring Australian hero, with a guard of honour, when Michael Hussey walked out for his final test after a distinguished career for his country, but another stupid run out ended his innings on 25, when skipper Michael Clarke called for a run that was never on, for one of the fasted men between the wickets in world cricket, even a full stretch dive wasn’t enough, so I hope that Clarkey bought his victim a large frosty after the game.

The Aussies posted 342/6 at stumps on day two of the third and final test aginst Sri Lanka, a lead of just 48 runs, thanks mainly to 85 from opener David Warner and 87 from number three batsman Phillip Hughes, who put on 130 for the second wicket.

Michael Clarke went on to score 50 and Matthew Wade was not out 47  with Peter Siddle on 16 when stumps were drawn.  — David Blood, SportsCentral