/ 18 July 2008

SA pace attack puts England under pressure

South Africa exploited favourable bowling conditions to reduce England to 70 for three at lunch on the first morning of the second test at Headingley.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel claimed two for 22 in his seven overs before the break and Dale Steyn again dismissed England captain Michael Vaughan cheaply as the tourists grabbed the initiative in gloomy and damp weather. Kevin Pietersen was unbeaten 17 and Ian Bell had four at the interval.

England started confidently by reaching 26 for no loss before Alastair Cook was given out caught down the leg side off Morkel by umpire Billy Bowden even though replays clearly showed the ball brushing his trouser leg. Cook made 18.

Vaughan, who was bowled by Steyn at Lord’s after getting out to him on the bowler’s debut in 2004/05, edged his seventh ball to South Africa captain Graeme Smith and was out for a duck.

Pietersen registered his first runs with a perfectly directed on-drive for four from Steyn through the vacant midwicket area, though next ball he survived a confident lbw appeal.

Pietersen showed little anxiety though by pulling his next delivery for six over square leg. Steyn’s eyes followed the ball and he gave a long smile before offering his rival some spirited verbal advice.

Opener Andrew Strauss, when on 23, looked to have been dismissed when AB de Villiers at third slip claimed a low catch off Morkel when the score was 57-2. But Bowden asked for the third umpire’s decision to see if the ball had carried and replays revealed that the ball had been grounded.

Strauss failed to go on though and he edged Morkel to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher when on 27 to ensure the Proteas dominated the morning session and vindicated Smith’s decision to bowl first, after he admitted he was wrong to bowl first at Lord’s.

Earlier, England gave a debut to swing bowler Darren Pattinson after Ryan Sidebottom failed a fitness test and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff came in for his first Test in 18 months as Paul Collingwood was dropped.

South Africa named an unchanged team after opener Neil McKenzie passed a test on his groin strain. – Reuters