OWN CORRESPONDENT, Port Elizabeth | Sunday 8.00pm.
PACEMAN Alex Tudor recovered from an early morning battering to lead an England revival in the afternoon session of the first day of their three-day match against a South African Invitation XI on Sunday.
At the close, England had scored 16 without loss after the South African Invitation XI had declared on 253 for seven thanks to knocks of 93 from Rudi Steyn and 69 from James Bryant.
On a pitch tailor-made for batting, England managed to fight back in the afternoon after the Invitation XI had reached 120 for one at lunch as Steyn, in particular, got stuck into Tudor.
Tudor reached the lunch break having bowled seven overs for 47 runs, but struck form in the afternoon session with three wickets in 8.5 overs for just 14 runs.
Left armer Alan Mullally bowled well throughout to end with two for 61 in 20 overs.
Opener Steyn batted superbly in the morning before being caught at midwicket after 114 balls 15 minutes after lunch.
His knock included 10 fours and three sixes. Bryant hit eight fours and a six.
Ashwell Prince added 32 and Justin Ontong 33 before Bryant’s dismissal prompted the declaration from Invitation XI captain Neil McKenzie.
Nick Knight (14) and Darren Maddy (2) saw England to the close without any loss. — Reuters