England romp to comprehensive victory

South Africa offer little resistance as tail is brushed aside

It took a meagre 24 overs for England to turn a position of near complete superiority into a 241-run victory on the fifth morning in Durban.

The tourists looked almost certain to wrap things up on the final day with six South African wickets required but if they had any lingering doubts prior to play getting under way, three balls in they will have known the game was theirs.

Only AB de Villiers stood in the way but when Moeen Ali spun one into his pads from round the wicket and won a favourable decision, the chances of the hosts negotiating almost 90 overs went from slim to none.

When Temba Bavuma was stumped for a duck two overs later, the top six were all gone leaving only the tail between England and the chance to sample a few of the home team’s sponsor’s product.

And only JP Duminy, wasted batting as low as No.8, offered any resistance as the last rites were clinically delivered.

Steven Finn rattled the stumps of Dale Steyn, Moeen hit Kyle Abbott in front, Chris Woakes finally put a wicket to his name as he got rid of Dane Piedt and it was left to Stuart Broad to hammer in the final nail as he trapped Morne Morkel lbw.

And that was that. A victory by 241 runs, an excellent all-round performance and individual contributions that should be heart-warming to those of an English persuasion.

Nick Compton slotted neatly into the first wicket down role, James Taylor again proved what plenty have known for a long time, Jonny Bairstow batted with rare fluency, Mooen had a strong game with the ball, Broad was outstanding, Joe Root did what Joe Root does and Finn made a welcome return.

The problems are all with the South Africans. Dean Elgar really could do with an opening partner, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis desperately need a score, de Villiers is being compromised by having to keep wicket, Duminy is sat in no man’s land as a non-bowling No.7 and Steyn’s body is rebelling against his workload.

As the caravan moves down the coast to Cape Town, only the fitness or otherwise of Jimmy Anderson will be occupying the thoughts of the team hierarchy – if fit he will surely replace Woakes – but their opposite numbers have a bit of soul searching to do.

But that is for them to worry about and for England, their festive period couldn’t have gone any more smoothly.