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: –