Persistent rain on Friday thwarted South Africa’s hopes of consolidating a huge first-day total in the first cricket test against England at Edgbaston.
South Africa was set to restart on an imposing 398 for one with skipper Graeme Smith on 178 not out, but the inclement weather washed out the morning session.
Gary Kirsten, who came in at the fall of opener Herschelle Gibbs’s wicket, was unbeaten on 26 after batting for nearly an hour Thursday.
With the threat of more rain later Friday, Edgbaston could face only its fifth washed out day in 39 tests and 102 years. The last time a full day’s play was washed out was against South Africa in 1998, when the last day was abandoned as the first test settled into a draw.
Smith and Gibbs (179) shared a record 338-run opening stand following the Smith’s decision to bat first after winning the toss.
The partnership was a record for any country against England, bettering the 329 runs Mark Taylor and Geoff Marsh shared for Australia in 1989 at Trent Bridge in the fifth test of the Ashes series.
South Africa made a mockery of England’s bowling in the 91 overs on Thursday, with even the return of veteran swing bowler Darren Gough after a 21-month absence failing to lift the home side.
England’s only wicket came in the 75th over and more than five hours after play had started in the five-match series when Gibbs was lured to hitting a catch in the deep.
Until then, England went through the motions as Smith and Gibbs piled on the runs in 452 balls between them.
England dropped Gibbs three times, but the first was not until the total was 188 with the opener on 94. He was later dropped on 124 and 157.
The inform Smith had scored 152 and 26 not out against Somerset, and 79 against India ”A” going into the test. Smith (22) also became the youngest captain to score a test hundred — his third hundred in his 11th test — and closed in on his second double century.
The South African bowlers hit England’s seven bowlers for 57 fours and a six as they ruthlessly took the initiative early in the series.
It was a remarkable comeback by the tourists, who were soundly beaten in the tri-series final two weeks ago at Lord’s: Michael Vaughan’s England won by nine wickets. – Sapa-AP