OWN CORRESPONDENT, Port Elizabeth | Friday 6.30pm.
ENGLAND clawed their way back into the match on day number two of the second test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
By the close of play the touring side had rattled up a reply of 139/1 to South Africa’s blistering first innings total of 450.
After losing the early wicket of Mark Butcher who was bowled by Shaun Pollock for four, Nassar Hussain ended the day unbeaten on 70 and Michael Atherton on 58.
In a performance that may yet decide the test, star of the South African innings Lance Klusener was the last man to go caught by Chris Adams off a ball by Darren Gough for 174. It is his second test century.
South Africa were all out after 128 overs.
Tailender Mornantau Hayward remained at the crease on a wobbly ten.
Mark Boucher played a steady job opposite Klusener until he was caught behind off a ball by Phil Tufnell for 42.
At lunch SA were 365/7. Klusener had 119 and Boucher 38. The partnership has been worth 97 runs, an 8th wicket record against England at St Georges Park.
Shaun Pollock fell for seven to Andrew Flintoff, soon after start of play.
Pollock tried to hook, but the ball was too short and he skied it to a waiting Michael Vaughan.
On Thursday Klusener hit an unbeaten 63 off 71 balls as South Africa reached 253 for six before bad light brought an enthralling days play to an early end.
The home side were struggling at 146 for five when Klusener started his innings.
The left-handed Klusener was the dominant partner in a 106-run sixth wicket stand with Jonty Rhodes, who was out for 50 in the 76th over, two balls before bad light stopped play.
It was the second successive half-century in the series for Klusener, who showed his powerful hitting could be as effective in Test cricket as it was when he was named player of the tournament at the 1999 World Cup.
England held the upper hand before Klusener started to cut loose after England captain Nasser Hussain sent South Africa in to bat on a grassy pitch on an overcast day.
Fast bowler Darren Gough had an off day, conceding 72 runs off 13 overs, but the rest of the England bowling was impressive.
Chris Silverwood, who showed genuine pace, and Phil Tufnell, who did not play in the first Test when England were beaten by an innings and 21 runs in Johannesburg, were the best bowlers for the tourists.
Silverwood had Jacques Kallis caught by Caddick at midwicket off a mistimed pull after scoring only one run off 30 deliveries.
Veteran left-arm spinner Tufnell took the wickets of South African captain Hansie Cronje and key batsman Daryll Cullinan, who made 58 after scoring a century in the first Test. — AFP