BEFORE yesterday, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir had had a forgettable Test series in Sri Lanka.
But, in the last 27 minutes of the second Test at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, they became heroes of SA’s return to the number one ranking.
SA hung on with eight wickets down to draw the match and, on the back of their victory in the first Test in Galle, clinch the series 1-0. That snatched back the number one Test ranking that the Aussies took by beating SA 2-1 in March.
It also made this SA side the first from the country to win a Test series and a one-day rubber in Sri Lanka on the same tour. SA last claimed a Test series here in 1993.
“Our goal was not to get back to number one,” SA captain Hashim Amla said. “It was to find a winning formula with a newish team. We’re certainly heading in that direction. This is a SA team who are very proud and passionate in the way we represent our country.”
Proteas top of the world after the Great Escape
But, in the last 27 minutes of the second Test at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, they became heroes of SA’s return to the number one ranking.
SA hung on with eight wickets down to draw the match and, on the back of their victory in the first Test in Galle, clinch the series 1-0. That snatched back the number one Test ranking that the Aussies took by beating SA 2-1 in March.
It also made this SA side the first from the country to win a Test series and a one-day rubber in Sri Lanka on the same tour. SA last claimed a Test series here in 1993.
“Our goal was not to get back to number one,” SA captain Hashim Amla said. “It was to find a winning formula with a newish team. We’re certainly heading in that direction. This is a SA team who are very proud and passionate in the way we represent our country.”
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