JOHANNESBURG — South Africa is set to pocket $450 000 (approximately R3,95 million) after they guaranteed the No 1 position in the ICC Test Championship beyond the April 1 cutoff date for prize money to be awarded in 2013.
Report by Reuters
The Proteas’ four-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second Test at Newlands on Sunday means they now cannot be caught at the top of the rankings by nearest rivals England, who are in New Zealand, or Australia, who are touring India.
The prize money is a significant increase from previous years, when $175 000 was given teams topping the Test or one-day international championship table.
While South Africa have sealed the No 1 spot, the battle for second, third and fourth positions is still alive with 13 points separating second-ranked England from fifth-ranked India.
The country that claims second position at the cutoff date will pick up $350 000, while the team finishing third will collect $250 000 and fourth takes home $150 000.
Meanwhile, while no home Test this summer has gone to a fifth day, Proteas batsman Hashim Amla says their latest match against Pakistan was South Africa’s toughest challenge since their away series in Australia last year.
“Pakistan took us to our limits in certain respects,” Amla said in Cape Town yesterday.
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“We were under pressure in our first innings and then chasing 180, in the second, was never going to be an easy total.”
The top-order batsman said Robin Peterson’s 84 in the first innings had provided the difference between the two sides and he heaped praise on the left-arm spinner.
“We all know the kind of work Robbie puts in behind the scenes, so it was wonderful to watch him oozing with confidence while he was batting,” Amla said.
“He also made a significant contribution with the ball and he has become a recognised player in his own right now.”
Amla was unconcerned about the side’s batting performance at Newlands and believed, in the context of the game, they had done well.
