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AB: That was some of the best I've faced

Johannesburg - Proteas captain AB de Villiers says that the English bowling in South Africa's second innings on Saturday was some of the best he has ever faced. 

South Africa were beaten by 7 wickets to lose the match and the series to the visitors. 

Stuart Broad's 6/17 ensured that the Proteas were skittled for just 83 on day three of the third Test at the Wanderers, but De Villiers said after the match that the performance was about more than just one man.

"That’s some of the best bowling I’ve faced, from the whole unit," De Villiers, who was out for 0, said.

"Obviously the conditions suited them really well and they made full use of that but they asked a lot of questions right throughout our innings.

"They didn’t ask as many questions in the first innings and I thought that was where we missed a trick. But this time around (second innings) they were spot on … a little bit fuller in their length and the ball was moving around a lot.

"They showed some good skill and you’ve got to give them credit for that, especially Broadie (Broad) for getting the results but as a unit they bowled pretty well."

De Villiers said there was no specific attention given to Broad going into the match, but rather a focus on the whole attack.

"No ... they've got a few bowlers who can win matches, not only him," said De Villiers.

"We were more thinking about how to counter that and absorb some of the pressure and counter it, which we didn't get right.

"Yes, we analysed the bowlers but that's where it stayed. We honestly didn't think or fear that somebody would take the game away from us, which unfortunately happened today."

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