Tag Oval-2012

Morne Morkel was surprize pick from visitors to bowl the first over of this high intencity test match but he didn't dissappoint by removing Andrew Strauss off the 4th ball. Then onwards, it was a struggle for South Africans on first day but one second, they covered some ground and lanky fast bowler was chief destroyer.

After Strauss, Morkel separated Jonathan Trott from Alastair Cook after they had put on 170 runs and then ate up Matt Prior and James Anderson to finish with 4-72. He was happy with South Africa’s improved performance with the ball.

The paceman also paid tribute to the efforts of fellow pacemen Steyn and Vernon Philander, who set the tone in their opening spells.

“I think it was needed,” said Morkel. “They were sitting pretty good overnight and we knew that the first hour this morning was key for us, to get some early wickets.

“All credit must go to Vernon and Dale; the intensity that they bowled with was fantastic.

Pointing out that his mates may have been rusty coming into the series and hence didn't bowl to their potential on first day, correcting themselves the next. “The main thing for us yesterday was we didn’t get the ball to swing as much as we would have liked. This morning we got it to move around a little bit and got the results.”

Asked whether he felt South Africa had ultimately let England get off the hook in scrambling to 385, Morkel added: “I think we will take that.

"There were a couple of small chances here and there with a run out, and if a couple of catches had carried to slip it might have been a different story.

“But with the result we had yesterday, looking at 380 tonight I think we will definitely take that and especially with the way we batted tonight; the way Graeme and Hashim then played was exceptional.”