And so to the big one, the previous matches merely foreplay, only sideshows leading up to the main event - the first test in the series. No more swimming with sharks or picking up locals in the clubs. The serious stuff starts now.
The team was unchanged from the success in the previous warmup but the overhead conditions were heavily clouded and South Africa won the important toss and but England in.
Kemp struck early on to remove Vimes for 7 with the score 17. Bennett and Nichani ground out 43 runs before Kallis sneaked one through Nichani's defences. Cloete came out to smash them to all parts but only succeeded in missing a straight one from Kent and having his middle stick laid flat. Bell soon followed him back in to the pavillion lbw for 5 and England were 102-4 at lunch. It didnt get much better after lunch, Bluefox caught behind for 14 and then Scott Craze forced to retire hurt after a beamer from Hayward hit him on the helmet. Throughout this Bennett was playing a lone hand from the top of the order and reached a well deserved half century, unfortunately he was unable to rescue the situation for England and when he went for 71, the tail folded to be all out for 192.
The England bowlers were then in great form, only to be thwarted by that thorn in many team's sides, Gary Kirsten. The veteran opener carried his bat throughout the South African first innings, making 134 not out to mar a good bowling performance. 4 wickets for Kevin Dean and three each for Smethurst and Chapman, at one stage South Africa were 158-6 but they rallied thanks to mr Kirsten to 309 all out. A lead of 117.
England needed something inspirational and they found it in number 3 Nichani. After Bennett's early dismissal it was Nichani who held the innings together. No other batsman reached 40 but Nichani forged partnerships of 70 with Cloete, 86 with Bell, 77 with Bluefox, and 52 with Chapman before perishing at the last for a brilliant 158. The abscence of Craze through injury could prove deciseive, England all out 364, 248 to win.
Smethurst removed Smith with the score on 33 but a century partnership between that man Kirsten and Kallis, who made 80 seemed to have killed off any hopes of an england victory. However from 142-1 South Africa were reduced to 196-6 with a brilliant 5 wicket hall from Matthew Hoggard. The victory seemed a possibility but and unbroken 7th wicket stand between Boucher and Mckenzie saw SA home to take the lead in the series with a 4 wicket win
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South Africa v England
1st Test Match - 26 Nov 2003
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England - 1st Innings
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S Bennett c Kent b Kemp 71
S Vimes c & b Kemp 7
N Nichani b Kallis 18
A Cloete b Kemp 13
I Bell lbw b Pollock 5
BlueFox c Boucher b Nel 14
S Craze rtrd ht 8
D Chapman b Pollock 12
M Smethurst not out 14
K Dean b Kemp 0
M Hoggard b Hayward 11
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Extras (nb7,w1,b9,lb2) 19
TOTAL (9 wkts, 80.5 overs) 192
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O M R W
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J Kent 3 0 11 0
J Kallis 7 5 5 1
M Hayward 15.5 4 35 1
A Nel 18 3 47 1
J Kemp 19 5 30 4
S Pollock 18 2 53 2
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1-17 2-60 3-83 4-98 5-130
6-167 7-167 8-167 9-192
South Africa - 1st Innings
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G Kirsten not out 134
G Smith c Sub b Dean 10
J Kallis c Cloete b Smethurst 14
H Gibbs c Vimes b Chapman 28
N McKenzie c Sub b Chapman 17
J Kent c Vimes b Smethurst 0
J Kemp c Chapman b Smethurst 3
M Boucher b Dean 19
S Pollock b Dean 23
M Hayward c Vimes b Dean 22
A Nel b Chapman 15
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Extras (nb11,b8,lb5) 24
TOTAL (all out, 133.1 ovrs) 309
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O M R W
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A Cloete 10 2 30 0
D Chapman 33.1 11 56 3
M Smethurst 31 9 75 3
M Hoggard 28 11 58 0
K Dean 31 8 77 4
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1-22 2-50 3-124 4-151 5-152
6-158 7-184 8-222 9-291 10-309
England - 2nd Innings
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S Bennett c Boucher b Pollock 14
S Vimes lbw b Pollock 27
N Nichani c Kent b Kemp 158
A Cloete b Pollock 27
I Bell run out 38
BlueFox c Kallis b Kemp 39
S Craze rtrd ht 0
D Chapman lbw b Kemp 16
M Smethurst b Nel 5
K Dean lbw b Nel 0
M Hoggard not out 0
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Extras (nb8,w1,b3,lb10) 22
TOTAL (9 wkts, 108.4 ovrs) 346
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O M R W
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J Kallis 4 1 7 0
M Hayward 14 2 38 0
A Nel 20 3 62 2
J Kemp 38.4 4 124 3
S Pollock 32 5 102 3
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1-35 2-51 3-121 4-207 5-285
6-337 7-342 8-342 9-346
South Africa - 2nd Innings
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G Kirsten b Hoggard 47
G Smith b Smethurst 19
J Kallis b Hoggard 80
H Gibbs c Vimes b Hoggard 22
N McKenzie not out 29
J Kent lbw b Hoggard 4
J Kemp lbw b Hoggard 1
M Boucher not out 20
S Pollock
M Hayward
A Nel
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Extras (nb4,w1,b3) 8
TOTAL (6 wkts, 69.4 overs) 230
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O M R W
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A Cloete 12 1 28 0
D Chapman 23 1 71 0
M Smethurst 11 1 40 1
M Hoggard 15 2 58 5
K Dean 8.4 0 30 0
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1-33 2-142 3-157 4-180 5-184
6-194
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South Africa won by 4 wickets
Man of the match: N Nichani
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