Twitter Reactions: Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje guide South Africa to victory in Centurion

After the first three days, England would have fancied their chances of victory in the Centurion Test. The Brits needed 255 runs with nine wickets remaining and the chase wasn’t beyond their capabilities by any means. Following a riveting day’s play the SuperSport Park, South Africa came out trumps by 107 runs. The triumph also helped them cease their five-match losing streak in Tests.

Joe Root tries hard

Rory Burns (84) and Joe Denly (31) had a massive task ahead of them. But Anrich Nortje nipped out Burns to break the 41-run stand. Denly took the aerial route as well, hitting a couple of sixes, before perishing to Dwaine Pretorius. The onus was then on Ben Stokes, who has bailed his team out numerous times this year. He joined Joe Root in the middle and put on a valuable stand of 46 runs.

Just when Stokes started to find his rhythm, Keshav Maharaj rattled his woodwork. Kagiso Rabada came to the party and got rid of Jonny Bairstow. At the other end, Root held one end up. The England skipper, eventually, had to perish after scoring 48 with eight fours. Nortje found Root’s outside-edge and delivered the body blow. After a promising start, the Brits’ innings fell apart.

Rabada makes inroads

Sam Curran smacked a couple to the boundary, but Rabada sent him packing. Jofra Archer steered one down to the slip cordon and gave Nortje his third wicket. With two wickets left, Jos Buttler was the only specialist batter in the middle. He hit two fours and as many sixes to reignite England’s hopes. It was pretty evident that once the Proteas get him, it would be the final nail in the coffin.

Buttler kept swinging hard and fell prey to Rabada. Buttler tried to clear the ropes, but ended up getting a top-edge. Stuart Broad didn’t have any answer to a peach from Rabada, who ended with four wickets. In the end, England were bundled out for 268 in 93 overs. The Three Lions had every chance of giving the Proteas a fight. To their dismay, they lost their last nine wickets for 128 runs.

Here is how Twitter reacted to South Africa’s thumping win: –

Given everything that's occured in South African cricket recently; that's a heck of a victory, #SAvsENG.

— Ian bishop (@irbishi) December 29, 2019

Have England forgotten how to play test cricket 😳 or is it the leadership???? #SAvsENG

— Tino95 (@tinobest) December 29, 2019

Yessss boys.. great start to the summer. Well done @faf1307 and team.. @OfficialCSA

— JP Duminy (@jpduminy21) December 29, 2019

Game set and test.. proteas go one up👏

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) December 29, 2019

Lovely to watch this!

Proper Gas from @KagisoRabada25 & @AnrichNortje02 🔥🔥🔥#SAvENG

— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) December 29, 2019

There are two ways to get wickets on this Supersport pitch – the disciplined way at low RPO and the short ball high RPO way. England chose the wrong one and it cost them.

— Jacques Rudolph (@Jacques_Rudolph) December 29, 2019

That was Quick 🔥 Nortje gonna be a handful on faster pitches 🔥🔥🔥🔥 #SAvsENG

— Tino95 (@tinobest) December 29, 2019

The Aussies are playing Great cricket .. I am here in Oz till early Feb .. England are losing again in Test cricket .. This is going to be a long few weeks unless they improve very very quickly .. !!!! #SAvENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 29, 2019

England is a fragile batting side at the moment. But South Africa would have gone in with a more positive mindset than we were allowed to see in India https://t.co/0PrExq0gAx

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 29, 2019

What a difference 4 days make. That was a proper victory.

The Proteas Phoenix is rising…

— Derek Alberts (@derekalberts1) December 29, 2019

Pommie Mbangwa says blame the batting. Nope. 284 too much after being put in, bowlers’ wrong length yet again. England actually fought pretty well second half of the match. Quite a deep malaise now

— Huw Turbervill (@huwzat) December 29, 2019

It's all over. South Africa starts its new ERA with a victory. They beat England by 107 runs in the first test in the four-match series. This is the first victory for South Africa in tests after five consecutive losses.

— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) December 29, 2019

No better way for South Africa to end 2019 – with a win, after a run of five losses. This does not mean all problems are solved – heck, one of the XI was inches away from a Kolpak deal ahead of this match – but it is a much, much-needed result. #SAvENG

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) December 29, 2019

And well done South Africa. We need as many competitive teams as possible in test cricket.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 29, 2019

Yes test victory was so necessary for SA cricket. Well played South Africa. But once again cricket teams are becoming poor tourists and that is alarming. https://t.co/fjpEVIptu4

— Sunandan Lele (@sunandanlele) December 29, 2019