By Richard Sydenham
LONDON Aug 18 (Reuters) – Jonny Bairstow fell five runs
short of a maiden test century as England reached 277 for eight
at lunch on day three of the third and final test against South
Africa at Lord’s on Saturday.
Bairstow, in the team for the omitted Kevin Pietersen, was
bowled for 95 by Morne Morkel. He was the last of three wickets
in a successful morning session for the tourists, who lead by 32
runs after scoring 309.
It was a courageous effort by the 22-year-old after coming
to the crease at 54 for four.
Graeme Swann was 14 not out and James Anderson was unbeaten
on nine, despite receiving treatment for a blow on his arm from
a short ball from Morkel.
England will be hoping to gain a first innings lead, however
small, as they must win the match to square the series and
prevent South Africa from leapfrogging them at the top of the
world rankings.
Matt Prior was South Africa’s first scalp of the morning,
after half an hour of fruitless toil, when he gifted his wicket
away by chasing a Vernon Philander out-swinger well wide of off
stump to edge to Jacques Kallis at second slip for 27.
Stuart Broad followed soon after, despite a breezy innings
of 16, when he prodded a short ball from Steyn to Hashim Amla at
short leg.
Swann nearly became the third victim of the morning when
umpire Kumar Dharmasena gave him lbw to Dale Steyn, but that was
overturned on review, as replays showed the ball would have
bounced over the stumps.
Continued…
