By Richard Sydenham
LONDON, July 20 (Reuters) – South Africa fought back against
England on the second day of the first test on Friday, first
with the ball and then the bat, to close on 86 for one after
bowling England out for 385.
Captain Graeme Smith, playing his 100th test match, was 37
not out and Hashim Amla was on 47 after being dropped on 40 by
first slip Andrew Strauss off Ravi Bopara. Alviro Petersen went
for a duck, lbw to James Anderson with just one on the
scoreboard.
The second-wicket partnership between Smith and Amla capped
a much-needed improvement by the tourists after a lethargic
display on day one, when England were mostly in control.
Morne Morkel finished off the England innings with four for
72, while Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis claimed two wickets
apiece. Alastair Cook added just one run to his overnight score
to depart for 115 and Matt Prior added a vital 60 from 90 balls.
It was an impressive comeback by the Proteas after England
resumed on 267 for three. The bowling was more accurate and
aggressive, although bowling conditions were better with the sun
being replaced by cloud cover.
Prior’s innings was a vital contribution as England, at one
point, looked as if they were going to collapse at 313 for seven
as the Proteas squeezed them with some tight, penetrative
bowling.
Prior struggled early on but after lunch was more fluent,
hitting three fours in six balls in one sequence. Prior reached
his fifty by straight driving Vernon Philander for four.
He was eventually Morkel’s third victim and was also one of
AB de Villiers’ five catches, which would please the team having
lost the services of veteran wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to a
freak eye injury on the first day of the tour.
Continued…
