A talented England 2010s side was routed by South Africa at Hampshire's Ageas Bowl in a remarkable Test match. They collapsed woefully on the 5th morning, bowled out for 80 and losing by 223 runs.
Much of this game was played under leaden skies with rain significantly disrupting the 3rd and 4th days. The highlight of day 1 was the 3rd wicket partnership of 144 for South Africa between Amla (97) and du Plessis (76). On a pitch offering bowlers assistance, a 1st innings total of 293 was respectable (3 wkts apiece for Archer & Anderson).
England then struggled to 211 all out, 82 in arrears, with Imran Tahir taking 4-40. They were fortunate to make this much, with the last 3 wickets adding 122 as Joe Root played a superb unbeaten knock of 137.
By day 4 the pitch was becoming uneven in bounce and batting was becoming even more difficult. South Africa made 221 in their 2nd innings to set the home team 304 to win.
England made a dreadful start when Cook was caught behind off Morkel's bowling for 4. It was a portent for the final day as Abbott (4-13), Morkel and Parnell (3 wkts apiece) cut swathes through the England batting, which Root apart had been equally insipid in their 1st innings. South Africa thoroughly deserved their victory and they have a more than useful pace attack. England have questions to answer about their batting, but Root was nevertheless man of the match for a brilliant century.
England 2010s: AN Cook (c), IJL Trott, JE Root, JM Bairstow, MM Ali, MJ Prior (wk), TT Bresnan, GP Swann, JC Archer, JM Anderson, SCJ Broad
South Africa 2010s: HM Amla, AK Markram, D Elgar, JP Duminy, F du Plessis (c), Q de Kock (wk), VD Philander, WD Parnell, KJ Abbott, M Morkel, Imran Tahir
South Africa 2010s 1st Innings 293-10 (97.2 Ov)
HM Amla 97, F du Plessis 75, VD Philander 49, JC Archer 3-48, JM Anderson 3-58
England 2010s 1st Innings 211-10 (64.1 Ov)
JE Root 137*, Imran Tahir 4-40, WD Parnell 3-36, M Morkel 2-49
South Africa 2010s 2nd Innings 221-10 (84.3 Ov)
JP Duminy 43, F du Plessis 40, HM Amla 32, GP Swann 3-27, JC Archer 2-35, TT Bresnan 2-38
England 2010s 2nd Innings 80-10 (35.2 Ov)
MJ Prior 34*, KJ Abbott 4-13, M Morkel 3-15, WD Parnel 3-18
South Africa 2010s win by 223 runs
Man of the Match: JE Root
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