Philander ends England's resistance
August 20, 2012 17:31:07 UK
Vernon Philander's five second innings wickets ensured South Africa defeated England.Vernon Philander took five second innings' wickets as South Africa defeated England by 51 runs in the third Test at Lord's to claim the three-match series 2-0.
Graeme Smith's side were well fancied to win the match and usurp England as the number one Test team in world cricket when they took the wickets of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook before close of play on Sunday.
Things then started badly for the hosts on Monday morning when Smith juggle-caught Ian Bell's shot from the bowling of Philander, before James Taylor was run-out by Hashim Amla with England toiling on 45-4.
Jonathan Trott and Jonny Bairstow steadied the ship before lunch, while also providing a glimmer of hope that England could still snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.
However, Bairstow was bowled by Imran Tahir on 54, before Trott followed him back to the pavilion on 63 having been caught superbly by Jacques Kallis at second slip from the bowling of Dale Steyn.
Matt Prior was joined by Stuart Broad with England on 146-6 and the duo hit a rapid 62 together before the latter went for a respectable 37 after being caught by Amla from the blowing of Kallis.
Grame Swann and Prior battled on after tea to put England in a winnable position until Swann was run out by Jacques Rudolph on 41 with the side on 282-8 - still 64 runs short of the victory targat of 346.
The arrival of the new ball proved decisive as Prior edged a Philander ball to Smith at first slip, before the South African bowler finished with figues of 5-30 when Steven Finn was caught by Kallis at second slip from his first ball to leave England all out on 294.
As a result, England's Test team slip down to second spot behind the Proteas in the world rankings after losing the series 2-0 and must now focus their energies on bouncing back with next year's Ashes series looming on the horizon.
England are 1.44 to retain the Ashes on home soil, Australia can be backed at 4.50 and the draw is 7.00.
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