ttritional South African batting and insipid Australian catching could not prevent the pace triumvirate of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus from positioning the tourists within four wickets of a series-clinching victory at the lunch break. In claiming a wicket apiece with the second new ball, Australia's pace attack - with a little help from the occasional wrist-spin of Simon Katich - reduced South Africa to 307 for 6, still trailing by a now insurmountable 238 with two sessions remaining.
Australia's quest for a third consecutive Test victory over the South Africans began inauspiciously, with Michael Clarke turfing Jacques Kallis to a straightforward chance at point. The reprieve was Kallis' second from the bowling of Siddle - the first coming from his first ball faced on Monday - and prompted dejected looks among the Australian fieldsmen. Johnson, though, ensured the mistake would not fester, removing the South African allrounder in the next over with a shorter, angling delivery that deflected off the outside edge and came to rest in the sure hands of Ricky Ponting at second slip.
Siddle was soon rewarded for his persistence with the wicket of the dangerous AB de Villiers, effectively terminating the South African resistance. This match is shaping as Siddle's finest on the international stage, and his delivery to de Villiers - fast, angling in, seaming away and shaving the edge - was from the very top shelf. South Africa were 279 for 4 midway through the session, and fighting for survival.
The hosts benefited from another reprieve when the luckless Siddle watched forlornly as Haddin spilled JP Duminy diving to his left. But, again, reinforcements were close at hand, and Ben Hilfenhaus promptly accounted for him with a short, sharp delivery that deflected from the gloves and flew to Haddin, no doubt grateful for his chance at redemption.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
England after Windies 544 runs
England 546 for 6 dec and 80 for 3 (Pietersen 34*, Collingwood 1*) lead West Indies 544 (Chanderpaul 133*, Nash 109) by 82 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Brendan Nash drives another boundary through his favourite cover region, during his maiden Test century © AFP
Shivnarine Chanderpaul produced an unflinchingly obdurate innings of 147 not out, and Brendan Nash chipped in with his maiden Test century, as West Indies stood firm against a frustrated England bowling attack to manoeuvre themselves ever closer to their first series victory since 2004, and their first triumph over England since the days of Ambrose and Walsh in 1997-98. By the close of the fourth and penultimate day of the contest, West Indies were themselves scenting an incredible final-day victory push, as they reduced England to 80 for 3 in their second innings, with Fidel Edwards producing a vicious three-over burst in the fading light that culminated in the near decapitation of Kevin Pietersen with the final ball of the day.
Nevertheless, Pietersen endured to the close on 34 not out from 27 balls, and so long as he remains, all four results will be possible. He came to the crease after the twin dismissals of Owais Shah, who completed another disappointing match by feathering his fifth ball through to the keeper, and Andrew Strauss, who chipped a return catch to the one-legged Chris Gayle for 14, having earlier survived an incredible appeal for caught-behind that once again brought the referral system into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Alastair Cook also fell before the close, caught-behind for 24 to a nick so thin that no sound could be heard when that decision too was put to the third umpire, while Paul Collingwood survived a squeakingly tight appeal for lbw when facing up to his first delivery from Ryan Hinds.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Brendan Nash drives another boundary through his favourite cover region, during his maiden Test century © AFP
Shivnarine Chanderpaul produced an unflinchingly obdurate innings of 147 not out, and Brendan Nash chipped in with his maiden Test century, as West Indies stood firm against a frustrated England bowling attack to manoeuvre themselves ever closer to their first series victory since 2004, and their first triumph over England since the days of Ambrose and Walsh in 1997-98. By the close of the fourth and penultimate day of the contest, West Indies were themselves scenting an incredible final-day victory push, as they reduced England to 80 for 3 in their second innings, with Fidel Edwards producing a vicious three-over burst in the fading light that culminated in the near decapitation of Kevin Pietersen with the final ball of the day.
Nevertheless, Pietersen endured to the close on 34 not out from 27 balls, and so long as he remains, all four results will be possible. He came to the crease after the twin dismissals of Owais Shah, who completed another disappointing match by feathering his fifth ball through to the keeper, and Andrew Strauss, who chipped a return catch to the one-legged Chris Gayle for 14, having earlier survived an incredible appeal for caught-behind that once again brought the referral system into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Alastair Cook also fell before the close, caught-behind for 24 to a nick so thin that no sound could be heard when that decision too was put to the third umpire, while Paul Collingwood survived a squeakingly tight appeal for lbw when facing up to his first delivery from Ryan Hinds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)