A five-wicket haul by England’s Matthew Hoggard after lunch on the fifth and final day of the fourth Castle Lager/MTN Test at the Wanderers on Monday has put England in sight of victory.
At tea, South Africa were 98 for five. They needed 217 more runs to win, but more importantly, needed to survive another 38 overs, with just five wickets in hand, to force a draw.
Hoggard’s first wicket came off his second over after lunch, when AB de Villiers — who had survived a confident lbw appeal before lunch — was given out lbw for three. Jacques Rudolph lasted just 17 minutes before he was clean-bowled for two.
Jacques Kallis, who has been South Africa’s top run-scorer in the series, was caught in the slips by Marcus Trescothick off the first ball he faced, and South Africa were in dire straits on 18 for the loss of three wickets.
Boeta Dippenaar and Herschelle Gibbs had put on 62 runs together when Hoggard returned for a second spell. Dippenaar flashed at a delivery that got the outside edge and was caught by Ashley Giles for 13. Mark Boucher lasted only 10 minutes until he was caught behind by Geraint Jones for a duck.
The only good news for South Africa in the afternoon session was Gibbs, who continued his excellent performance in the first innings by reaching his 18th half-century. He also notched up his 5 000th run, becoming only the third South African, after Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis, to achieve this.
Gibbs went to tea on 65, and Nicky Boje on six. Hoggard ended the session on five for 13 off 11 overs. He has taken 10 wickets in the match so far. — Sapa