OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cheltenham | Sunday 1.00PM.
SOUTH Africa’s final warm-up fixture against Essex failed to get off the ground on Sunday, when a combination of heavy overnight rain and a malfunction in the drainage system resulted in a waterlogged outfield. Play is expected to resume at 3pm.
The local fire brigade was called in to help pump the water into the nearby Can river, but there was no chance of play getting under way before lunch.
The second day of South Africa’s scheduled three-day fixture against Essex at Chelmsford was abandoned due to rain just after lunch on Saturday, with the home side on 102/3 in reply to the South Africans’ first innings 406/5 declared.
The break will be a blow to the tourists’ preparations ahead of the fifth Test against England at Headingley starting on Thursday.
The South Africans bowled well ahead of the break, with Makhaya Ntini producing some fine deliveries. Ntini caught Darren Robinson (17) with a suberb ball that swung in through his defnces and knocked over the furniture. Ian Flanagan was superbly caught at second slip by Jacques Kallis off the bowling of Shaun Pollock to be back in the hut for six.
Ronni Irani, who bludgeoned Brian McMillan all over the park, was dismissed by Pat Symcox, caught and bowled for 33, before the downpour began just before lunch.
Scores on the third and final day of the cricket match between Essex and the touring South Africans at Chelmsford on Sunday.
South Africa, first innings — 406/5 declared.
Essex, first innings — (102/3 overnight)
D Robinson b Ntini 17 (75m 60b 1×4)
I Flanagan c Kallis b Pollock 6 (31m 22b)
T Hodgson not out 44
R Irani c and b Symcox 33 (57m 39b 4×4 1×6)
P Grayson c Liebenberg b Pollock 2 (23m 18b)
A Hibbert 2
Extras 13
Total (for 4 wkts) 117 — 40 overs
Fall of wickets: 1/22 2/49 3/92 4/111
Bowling: Pollock 9-2-21-1 (1w), Elworthy 10-2-24-0 (3nb), Ntini 8-2-28-1, McMillan 4-0-21-0, Symcox 3-2-2-1
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