Smith, Amla Send South Africa To Crazy Victory

Cape Town, Nov 11: Centuries by Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla sent South Africa to an eight-wicket win over Australia inside two-and-a-half days in the opening test at Newlands on Friday.

Smith made 101 not out and Amla 112, sharing a 195-run partnership as South Africa reached 236-2 before lunch on day three for a 1-0 lead in the series.

Australia's bowlers took just one wicket on Friday on a pitch where it was skittled out for 47 in a game-changing collapse in its second innings on Thursday, its lowest score since the 19th century.

Smith and Amla restored sanity after that crazy second day when 23 wickets fell, batting fluently to take South Africa to an absurd victory after it trailed by 188 runs in the first innings just a day ago.