/ 30 July 2008

England lose quick wickets after solid start

The freak dismissal of Andrew Strauss sparked a collapse for England as they went to lunch on 82 for three after making a solid start on the first morning of the third Test against South Africa on Wednesday.

Strauss and opening partner Alastair Cook had put on 68 for the first wicket and were looking comfortable in sunny conditions at Edgbaston after England had won the toss.

But in the 23rd over Strauss played a flick shot off his hip to Andre Nel but trod on his middle stump at the same time to gift the Proteas a breakthrough.

Strauss was out hit wicket for 20 from 67 deliveries after providing reliable support to the more aggressive Cook, who was 48 not out at the interval, with Ian Bell on four.

The very next ball from Nel, England captain Michael Vaughan was given out caught behind. Vaughan, struggling for form, appeared unhappy with the decision from Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar. Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher did not appeal initially.

Just as England were attempting to recover from that double blow, their highest-ranked batsman Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for four.

He played across the line to Jacques Kallis and Australian umpire Steve Davis raised his finger and indicated he was giving him out caught by point fielder Ashwell Prince, believing he had deflected an inside edge on to pad.

Television replays suggested the ball did not strike his bat and that Pietersen may have been more in danger of being out lbw, though the ball may still have struck him outside the line of off stump.

The three wickets fell for just six runs in the space of 21 deliveries and totally changed the story of the morning session. Nel, playing because of Dale Steyn’s broken thumb, has two for 19 from seven overs.

Cook earlier edged Morne Morkel to Paul Harris in the gully when on one and although the ball flew towards Harris’s favoured left hand it bounced inches short of being a chance. He picked up two runs from the leading edge.

South Africa’s bowlers have tested Cook with the short ball several times, particularly Nel, but the left-hander dealt with the tactic comfortably on almost every occasion.

England are trailing 1-0 in the four-match series and must win if they are to keep alive their hopes of winning the series. – Reuters