For the second day, South Africa A had the better of things in their three-day match against England at Sedgars Park on Sunday. At close of play, England, on 154 for seven and with a lead of 98, were facing the possibility of a hefty defeat in their warm-up match before the first Test in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
Earlier, England had a good day in the field, dismissing South Africa A for 281 just over midday through the afternoon session.
Andrew Flintoff snatched three wickets in the morning session. First to go was Ashwell Prince, who was caught and bowled by Flintoff for 33. Martin van Jaarsveld, who had been looking very good, was caught by Graham Thorpe at shot leg for 71, and JP Duminy was next to go, bowled by Flintoff. South Africa A went in to lunch
on 207 for five. Flintoff ended with figures of three wickets for 50 runs — but he also bowled 11 no balls.
It took England about an hour and a half to mop up the rest of the South Africa A batsmen, but not before Albie Morkel had scored a quickfire 47 off 48 balls, including six fours and two sixes — both sixes coming in the same over from Ashley Giles. Alfonso Thomas was brilliantly caught in the gully by Andrew Strauss off Simon Jones for 12.
Mark Boucher, seeking to persuade the national selectors that he should return to the senior side, stuck around for two hours until he ran out of partners. He ended undefeated on 26.
England, trailing by 56 runs, got off to the worst possible start in their second innings, and coach Duncan Fletcher will be disappointed that once again, the players who needed some time in the middle after a long lay-off failed once again.
Marcus Trescothick was out lbw to Charl Willoughby in the first over, and Andrew Strauss — the only England player to score a half century in the first innings, was caught by JP Duminy off Ethy Mbhalati for nought in the second. Mbhalati struck again in his second over, to have Mark Butcher, who has had a miserable tour so far, trapped lbw for nought, and England were reeling on three for three.
Graham Thorpe, also needing some batting time, was beginning to look threatening until he was bowled by Willoughby for 11 off ten balls.
Andrew Flintoff, with 21 runs off 21 balls, was bowled by Albie Morkel.
Geraint Jones was caught behind by fellow wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off Mbhalati for 26, 20 of his runs having come off boundaries, and Ashley Giles was brilliantly caught in the slips by Martin van Jaarsveld off Alfonso Thomas for two.
Michael Vaughan, who survived two chances, on 15 and 44, was playing a true captain’s innings. He reached his 55th first class half century off 91 balls, and ended the day on 82 not out — the highest score in the match so far.
The match ends on Monday, and England fly to Port Elizabeth on Tuesday to prepare for the first Test. – Sapa