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| Samit Patel
spins England to series-win |
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August 29, 2008
England sealed the ongoing Natwest Series 3-0
with a huge 126-run win at The Brit Oval. The Proteas were on
the backfoot ever since Graeme Smith was ruled out of the
series because of an elbow injury. The match was set up in
England's favour through strokeful half centuries from Ian
Bell and Andrew Flintoff that gave a difficult target of 297.
The South Africans showed no fight at all in their chase and
this time round folded to the left arm spin of Samit Patel.
The South Africans led by Jacques Kallis had
won the toss and elected to field first. They were under
immense pressure once openers Ian Bell and Matt Prior went
onto put on a
century stand at more than run-a-ball. Prior
made 33 from 37 balls with 5 fours and a six while his partner
Bell went onto make 73 from 77 with 11 fours and a six.
Although England lost their Skipper Pietersen cheaply for 5,
they went onto make nearly 300 with Freddie Flintoff firing
with 78 from 77 with 9 fours and a six. Samit Patel did his
bit too with his 33-ball 31.
The Proteas were never in control of their
chase thanks to a superb opening spell from Jimmy Anderson.
The swing bowler gave only 17 runs in his 7 overs besides
taking the wicket of Gibbs. Apart from Hashim Amla, none of
the South African batsmen could get anything significant. Amla
opened the batting in the absence of Graeme Smith to top score
with 46 from 59 balls with 6 fours. Samit Patel enjoyed a good
time with the ball as the batsmen tried to go after him only
to give him 5 wickets. Patel also bowled two maidens and gave
away just the 41 runs in his 9.4 overs to end up as the Man of
the Match. Flintoff took a couple of wickets including that of
the South African Skipper Jacques Kallis. The Proteas were
bundled out in 42.4 overs for 170.
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