South Africa fought back brilliantly on the third day of the first Castle Lager/MTN Test against England at St George’s Park on Sunday to finish the day with a small lead and nine wickets in hand, with two days left to play.
South Africa looked down and out at the end of the second day, with England on 227 for one, and just 110 runs behind South Africa’s first-innings total of 337. However, South Africa took three wickets before lunch and forced their way back into the match.
Shaun Pollock made the initial breakthrough, capturing the wicket of Andrew Strauss for 126, when Strauss clipped him to AB de Villiers at point.
England captain Michael Vaughan lasted just 20 minutes before a ball from Andrew Hall appeared to come quicker than he had expected, and he was caught by his opposite number for 10.
The third wicket to fall was that of Graham Thorpe, who looked very rusty, and was out-thought by Smith, who bowled him round his legs for four.
England passed South Africa’s total 55 minutes after lunch, but a brilliant spell from Makhaya Ntini immediately after the drinks break — at almost the exact midpoint of the match — changed the course of events.
Ntini took three wickets in four balls to dismiss three important batsmen. Mark Butcher, who had been playing himself back into form after a long lay-off, flashed at Ntini, and was caught by Thami Tsolekile for 79.
Two balls later, Andrew Flintoff lofted a ball straight to Rudolph on the boundary, for 35, and Geraint Jones fended Ntini’s next delivery straight to Boeta Dippenaar at extra cover for two.
Not to be left out, Andrew Hall sent Matthew Hoggard back to the dressing room, caught by Tsolekile for a duck, and South Africa had taken four wickets for the addition of just 12 runs.
The England tail-enders frustrated the South African bowlers, with Ashley Giles and Simon Jones putting on 36 for the ninth wicket, before Giles was caught by Andrew Hall off Pollock for 26.
Jones and Steve Harmison then caused the South Africans even more frustration, as they stuck together for half an hour that began to look like the Keystone Cops, as catches were dropped and Harmison was caught off a no-ball.
Dale Steyn had two catches dropped off his bowling, so it was fitting that he caught Jones off his own bowling for 24.
The 10th-wicket partnership of 31 took England to 425 for a first-innings lead of 88.
One of the disturbing aspects of the South African bowling was the number of no-balls conceded — a record total of 35, with Steyn bowling 16.
A slow over rate may also result in a fine for the South African captain. South Africa ended the day on 99 for two, for a lead of 11 runs.
The men out were AB de Villiers, who was brilliantly caught by Hoggard off his own bowling for 14, and Jacques Rudolph, who top-edged a delivery from Giles to Marcus Trescothick at first slip for 28. Graeme Smith was not out on 33, and Kallis had 10. — Sapa