Graeme Smith (101 not out) and Hashim Amla (112) struck centuries in South Africa’s humiliation of Australia on the third day at Newlands, Cape Town, on Friday (November 11). The winning run came when Greame Smith, who finished unbeaten on 101, clipped Peter Siddle through midwicket. This was a team that on the second day had been bowled out for 96. In doing so, South Africa became just the second team in 60 years to win a Test having been bowled out for less than 100 in their first innings; the only other occasion in the modern era was New Zealand’s success against India in Wellington in December 2002.
It was ninth occasion in when a team achieved victory having been bowled out for less than 100 in their first innings. The 195-run stand between Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla is South Africa’s highest for the second wicket against Australia. The previous best, of 173, had stood for more than 109 years. The match lasted only 1007 deliveries, which is among the shortest since 1940 for a Test with a decisive result. In these 71 years, only six Tests have ended in fewer deliveries.
Victory after scoring under 100 in the first innings:
Score Winner Loser Venue Season Result
45 England Australia Sydney 1886-87 13 runs
63 Australia England The Oval 1882 7 runs
75 England Australia Melbourne 1894-95 94 runs
75 Australia South Africa Durban 1949-50 5 wickets
76 England South Africa Leeds 1907 53 runs
91 S Africa England Johannesburg 1905-06 1 wicket
92 England South Africa Cape Town 1898-99 210 runs
94 N Zealand India Hamilton 2002-03 4 wickets
96 S Africa Australia Cape Town 2011-12 8 wickets
Smith first to score four
centuries in last innings victories
Graeme Smith’s unbeaten 101 in South African second innings was his fourth hundred in the fourth innings of a Test, which equals the record held by India’s Sunil Gavaskar. All four of Graeme Smith’s fourth-innings hundreds have come in wins, making him the first player to score four centuries in victories. He is also the first to pass 1000 runs in fourth-innings wins. Of Graeme Smith’s 23 hundreds, 16 have come in wins and seven in draws, which means he hasn’t yet scored a hundred in a Test defeat.
Most runs in fourth innings for winning cause
Batsman I NO Runs AVG HS 100 50 0
Graeme Smith (S Africa) 18 6 1030 85.83 154* 4 5 1
Matthew Hayden (Aus) 27 11 913 57.06 101* 1 6 1
Gordon Greenidge (WI) 23 10 850 65.38 214* 1 4 –
Justin Langer (Aus) 23 6 849 49.94 127 2 5 1
Ricky Ponting (Aus) 22 13 835 92.77 143* 3 3 1
