Proteas have mixed results against England
This past weekend the South African cricket team played in 2 different T20 Internationals against England. England were victorious in the first match played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday night. The Proteas won the 2nd match played at Supersport Park in Centurion yesterday.
On Friday night Graeme Smith sent England in to bat first after winning the toss at the Wanderers. England managed to score 202 for the loss of 6 wickets. Contributions of 33 by Trott, 57 by Collingwood and 85 by Morgan helped to power the English innings. Mclaren (fairly new to the South African side) manage to take 3 wickets for 33 runs in 4 overs (the best South African bowler in the match). Langeveldt managed to take 1 wicket for 39 runs in 4 overs. The other 2 dismissals in the English innings were run-outs. Batsmen Loots Bosman and Graeme Smit opened the South African innings and put up an impressive opening partnership for the Proteas in 8.3 overs. They scored 97 runs between the two of them before Graeme Smith was dismissed for 41 runs. Loots Bosman joined him shortly after this on the pavillion and England were back in the game (dismissed for 58 runs). A small contribution by JP Duminy did not help the Proteas (managing to score only 6 runs from 5 balls). A thunderstorm was brewing in Johannesburg. South Africa needed to progress from 121/3 to 129/3 in 1 over to clinch the match for South Africa (according to the Duckworth / Lewis system). The batsmen, AB De Villiers and Albie Morkel only managed to score 6 runs (instead of 
before rain came pouring down at the Wanderers. South Africa lost by a single run (again). South Africa were a bit unlucky, but would have won this match if the batsmen were not so cautious in the last over.
On Sunday, South Africa batted first in the 2nd T20 International match against England at Supersport Park in Centurion. The Proteas scored the second highest total ever in T20 Internationals, 241 runs for 6 wickets. Loots Bosman and Graeme Smith opened the South African batting innings and managed to put the highest ever opening partnership total in T20 cricket. South Africa only lost the first wicket of their innings with their total on a 170. Graeme Smith scored 88 runs from 44 balls. Loots Bosman scored 94 runs from only 45 balls. Minor contributions by AB De Villiers (24) and Albie Morkel (14) helped the home side to reach 241 runs from 20 overs. England came in to bat but could only manage a total of 157 runs for 8 wickets. South Africa won the match by 84 runs. Loots Bosman was awarded the Man of the Match award for his contribution. The Proteas have proved once again that they are a force to aware of in International cricket. Only time will tell if they manage to keep up this reputation.
