South Africa thrash Australia by eight wickets in 'incredible' Cape Town Test

Cape Town, Nov 11(ANI): South African captain Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla hit centuries to help guide their team to an eight-wicket win over Australia in the first Test at Newlands stadium in Cape Town.

Resuming on 81-1 chasing 236 for victory, South Africa reached their target untroubled as Smith (101 not out) and Amla (112) tormented the Australian bowlers with a 195 run partnership for the second wicket.

It was Amla's 13th Test century, while Smith silenced any doubts that South Africa's stars were out of touch with the long form of the game after a 10-month Test cricket break, ABC News reports.

South African fast bowler Vernon Philander was named Man of the Match for his figure of 5-15 in the second innings.

Smith praised his bowling attack for the clatter-of-wickets carnage on day two of the Test on Thursday, when the tourists were bowled out for 47 in their second innings.

"Incredible. Yesterday was a mind boggle for all of us. It's a win I need to give to the bowlers. They got us bat in the game and set it up for us today. We showed a lot of resilience," Smith said.

"The boys are looking forward to a weekend off, and then focus on Johannesburg. Vernon has deserved his call-up. His stats in first-class cricket have been incredible. He had a wicket that he could work with and he made it count," he added.

Meanwhile, Australian captain Michael Clarke blamed his batsmen for the defeat.

"Full credit to South Africa, for how they bowled and the way they played today. We might have needed 600. We played disgraceful shots. Horrendous shot selection," he said.

The win gives South Africa a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. (ANI)