Proteas remain in control

2008-07-21 07:51

England - England's batsmen continued to struggle on the third day of the second test, reaching 50/2 in their second innings on Sunday to remain 269 runs short of making South Africa bat again.

Alastair Cook and night watchman James Anderson were not out for England, which will have to bat for the best part of two days to save the Test match.

England lost Andrew Strauss and captain Michael Vaughan before the close after South Africa had been bowled out for 522 in their first innings.

Both of England's batsmen were caught behind by Mark Boucher off Makhaya Ntini, as South Africa finished the day in complete control.

AB de Villiers was the first wicket to fall after tea as England wrapped up South Africa's innings.

Andrew Flintoff, who bowled 40 overs in the innings, took a stunning one-handed catch at first slip off Stuart Broad to dismiss de Villiers for a superb 174.

De Villiers was jeered when he walked to the crease on Saturday after claiming a catch on Friday that had clearly bounced.

Commanding first-innings lead

"It was the first time ever I have been booed to the field and if anything it motivated me to do better," de Villiers said. "I've never been booed onto the field before. It was very disappointing. It hurt a lot and I don't think I deserved it.

Monty Panesar picked up his second wicket when Paul Harris skied a catch to Anderson at midwicket. Makhaya Ntini was the last man out, caught by Kevin Pietersen off Panesar, as South Africa secured a commanding first-innings lead of 319.

England took two wickets in the afternoon session, with Anderson removing Mark Boucher when the South African wicketkeeper played on to his stumps attempting a hook and departed for 34. Morne Morkel never looked comfortable against the spin of Panesar and was bowled through the gate for nought.

It was Panesar's first wicket in 492 deliveries in Test cricket.

Anderson and debutant Darren Pattinson took the new ball just before tea but de Villiers and Paul Harris remained unbeaten at the interval.

"We are going to have to bat well on Monday and dig in," Anderson said. "They are going to come out all guns blazing. We are confident we can bat for two days. Hopefully I can hang around a bit. We bat down to Broady at nine and we have plenty of batting in the tent."

Breakthrough

Earlier, South Africa extended its first innings lead to 181 runs at lunch after resuming on 322-4.

De Villiers scored his sixth Test century shortly before the interval, with Ashwell Prince's wicket the only breakthrough for England in the morning session.

England's bowlers had looked more dangerous than on day two with newcomer Pattinson and Anderson causing problems for the tourists. Pattinson claimed his second ever Test wicket when Prince was caught behind for his highest Test score of 149.

The dismissal ended a brilliant fifth-wicket stand of 212 between Prince and de Villiers - a record for South Africa against England.

De Villiers went to lunch on 103 not out with Boucher the other unbeaten batsman on eight.

South Africa bowled England out for 203 on day one.

- SAPA