After a disastrous start, the fourth day of the first Castle Lager Test against England at Supersport Park on Saturday belonged to South Africa, largely thanks to a superb, patient century by Hashim Amla.
At close of play, England, chasing a target of 364 to win after South Africa declared their second innings at 301 for seven, had 11 for one.
The day started badly for the Proteas, who lost three wickets for the addition of just 71 runs in the first session.
Night-watchman Paul Harris was first to go, bowled by James Anderson for 11. Captain Graeme Smith went soon after, bowled by Graham Onions for 12, and when South Africa’s premier batsman, Jacques Kallis, was caught at deep square leg by Alistair Cook off Stuart Broad for four, it appeared that England were in control.
Superb partnership
However, a superb fifth-wicket partnership of 119 between Amla and AB de Villiers wrested the initiative away from the visitors.
Amla played the holding role, while De Villiers played more aggressively. Although their century partnership included only 11 boundaries and a six from De Villiers, they kept the scoreboard ticking over until, about 20 minutes before tea, De Villiers was caught in the
covers by Ian Bell for 64.
Amla said they were under considerable pressure when their partnership began.
”If we had lost a few more quick wickets, the total would have been significantly less,” he said.
”Fortunately, myself and AB, we got a partnership going. That partnership set the platform for Bouch (Mark Boucher) to come in and really take the score up to where it was.”
Third victim
JP Duminy became Anderson’s third victim shortly after tea, when he was given out leg before wicket for 11. He asked for a review of the decision, but the third umpire showed the ball clipping the bails, and the decision was upheld.
Veteran Mark Boucher, playing in his 127th Test match, attacked the tiring England bowlers, who were toiling in the hot sun. He hit seven fours and a six on his way to his 30th half-century, while Amla quietly continued to accumulate runs.
Amla reached his seventh Test century – and second against England – off 210 balls.
England took the second new ball, and Anderson made it count when he bowled Amla for 100 off the fifth ball of the over.
With licence to attack, Boucher and Morne Morkel went on a merry spree, scoring 35 runs off 24 balls to take South Africa past 300, when Smith called his players in. Boucher was unbeaten on 63 and
Morkel on 22, including four boundaries.
Six overs
England had to survive six overs, and Morkel struck a telling blow when Strauss got an edge to a ball that was moving away from him, and was caught by Boucher for one in the second over.
South Africa appear to be the only team capable of winning the Test and going one-up in the four Test series.
The highest fourth innings total in a Test at Centurion was 258, scored by England in the infamous Hansie Cronje ‘leather jacket’ Test in 1999/2000. But England have a long batting order and will be hoping to eke out a draw.
Anderson said the first hour of play on Sunday would be very difficult, and would also be crucial. ”If we can get through the first hour, we can reassess the
situation at lunch and at tea,” he said.
”We have been in this position before, and we know what we have to do tomorrow. Probably batting out the whole day is our main focus at this stage.”
First test draw
In July this year, England fought a famous rearguard action to draw the first Test against Australia in Cardiff.
They went on to win the five-Test Ashes series 2-1. ”It will be a big day for us – similar to Cardiff, and we pulled that one through,” Anderson said.
”You saw what happened after that. That’s the sort of momentum we’re looking for.”
Amla said the South Africans would also wait until morning to decide on strategy for the final day’s play.
”I think the wicket played the best it has throughout the match today, but we are hoping that it will be a bit more up and down,” he said. ”We’ll have to reassess the situation tomorrow.
”We are confident that we have a lot of runs on the board, but we’re taking nothing for granted.
”We can’t control how the wicket reacts, but we can control the way we bowl.”