/ 5 January 2005

SA set massive target for England

Shaun Pollock grabbed the early wicket of Marcus Trescothick on the fourth morning of the third Castle Lager/MTN cricket Test at Newlands on Wednesday to reinforce South Africa’s dominance over England.

The visitors went to lunch on 23 for one wicket, still needing 478 runs for victory.

There was a frenetic first hour of play, when South Africa lost five wickets in 10 overs and three balls for the addition of 38 runs, before Graeme Smith declared the innings closed on 222 for eight. This set England the mammoth target of 501 to win.

Boeta Dippenaar was out second ball of the morning, when he spooned an Andrew Flintoff delivery to Michael Vaughan at midwicket. He was out for 44 off 127 deliveries. He had been at the crease for two hours and 39 minutes.

Nicky Boje was sent in up the order, apparently to raise the run rate, but he was run out with his score on four. Jacques Kallis went 13 balls later, after he had nearly run out batting partner Hashim Amla.

Kallis made 66 off 134 balls in four hours and 10 minutes. AB de Villiers hit two fours before he was caught by Ashley Giles off Steve Harmison for 10, and Amla was caught behind by Geraint Jones, trying to hook a ball from Simon Jones.

Pollock and Makhaya Ntini took the score to 222, which brought South Africa’s lead to the psychological figure of 500, and Smith called his men in.

Coming in to bowl, Pollock struck with his second delivery, when he had Trescothick caught by Amla before any runs had been scored. Andrew Strauss went to lunch on 16 and Robert Key had seven. — Sapa