South Africa Win Lord's Thriller; Take Series 2-0, Move to No.1 in Test Ranking

London: Vernon Philander struck twice with the second new ball to give SA a historic victory at Lord's and the No.1 Test ranking. Prior's counter-attacking half century went in vain.

England lost the final Test, the series and their number one ranking to South Africa despite a valiant final-day run-chase at Lord's.

Set 346 to win, the hosts threatened to pull off a remarkable victory thanks to Jonny Bairstow (54), Jonathan Trott (63) and Matt Prior (73).

But Vernon Philander (5-30) returned to take two wickets in two balls and seal a 51-run triumph for the Proteas.

South Africa take over from England at the top of the Test rankings.

South Africa's Hashim Amla and England' Matt Prior declared Man of the Series and Vernon Philander is named Man of the Match.

Brief scores
South Africa 309 (Philander 61, Duminy 61, Finn 4-75) and 351 (Amla 121, Finn 4-60)
England 315 (Bairstow 95, Bell 58, Morkel 4-80, Steyn 4-94) and 294 (Prior 73, Trott 63, Bairstow 54, Philander 5-30)
Result South Africa won by 51 runs
MOM Vernon Philander (South Africa)
Players of the series Hashim Amla (South Africa) and Matt Prior (England)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Australia vs India - 1st Test West Indies vs Bangladesh - 1st Test 1st ODI - Zimbabwe v Pakistan - November 24, 07:30 GMT 2nd ODI - Zimbabwe v Pakistan - November 26, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Sri Lanka v New Zealand at Kandy No results 3rd T20I - Australia v Pakistan at Hobart Australia won by 7 wickets (with 52 balls remaining)

Related links

South Africa Tour of England 2012 News

Buttler Fire as England Level Series [+]

England beat South Africa by 28 runs in the third and final Twenty20 international at Edgbaston to end the series all square at 1-1 with one no result.

Rain Plays Spoilsport at Old Trafford [+]

South Africa preserve their 1-0 series lead over England as the second Twenty20 at Old Trafford is abandoned due to rain.

Bopara Left Out as England Bowl [+]

England won the toss and elected to field in the 2nd T20I at Old Trafford in Manchester. South Africa lead the 3 match series 1-0.

England Seeks Fresh Start in 2nd T20 [+]

England captain Stuart Broad says freshness is more important than practice before the second T20 international against South Africa.

Kallis, Duminy Helps South Africa Win [+]

Kallis and Duminy put on an unbeaten run-a-ball 90 run partnership for the 4th wicket to set up a comfortable 7 wicket victory for SA in the first T20I at Durham.

Amla Rested as South Africa Field First [+]

South Africa captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to field in the first Twenty20 international against England at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

Ashwin Moves to 4th in ODI Rankings [+]

Ravichandran Ashwin has moved up by two places to fourth in the latest ICC One-day Rankings for bowlers while skipper MS Dhoni has dropped a place to sixth.

England Recall Anderson for T20 Series [+]

Anderson is in line to make his first T20 international appearance in nearly three years after being called up by England for the three-match series against South Africa.

Amla, de Villiers Helps Proteas Draw Series [+]

Hashim Amla (97) and AB de Villiers (75) hit half-centuries as South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket victory to tie the one-day series with England 2-2.

England to Bat; Ontong, Morkel in [+]

England skipper Alastair Cook won the toss and decided to bat against South Africa in the fifth and final one-day international at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.