Cricket South Africa v England, fifth Test: England came back strongly at South Africa yesterday just as they have all series. On Sunday evening, as the Hammer Horror skies staged their pyrotechnics, South Africa's bowlers had put them on the rack, with the promise of more to come after another night for the pitch to sweat under its covers.
Instead, England turned the game round, not only managing a first-innings lead of 112 but then, in the final 19 overs of the day, making inroads into the South African second innings.
At 59 for two, still 53 runs behind, South Africa will be faced with a considerable task today if they are not to concede a match they should have had under control.
This fourth day had been like a musical score with a slow movement, followed by something livelier and then, as Andrew Flintoff, given the new ball, tore in, a rousing finale.
Flintoff's insistent pace and sheer personality induced an edge from the dangerous Herschelle Gibbs. He followed that by plucking from the ground the off-stump of Andrew Hall, promoted either on merit or as nightwatchman; it is hard to tell with South Africa.
The all-rounder has not had a better match all series. His bowling was a catalyst for the South African collapse in their first innings and his batting yesterday was remarkably and admirably restrained for the most part.
When, finally, he threw his bat one last time outside off-stump and edged Hall's zippy seam to Mark Boucher, he had made 77, with 12 fours and a six.
In the process he had shared in a fifth-wicket partnership of 141 with the indefatigable Graham Thorpe, who dug deep to make 86 before he was yorked neck and crop by the local fast-medium hero and eccentric Andre "Eskimo" Nel.
The pair had worked immensely hard before lunch, after which Flintoff, a batsman who has the capacity to change gear dramatically, duly did so while his partner continued on his steadfast way. From 114 for four overnight England expunged the South African lead with no more wickets lost and were already starting to think of building a significant lead when Nel struck.
He is a rangy young man with an awkward angular action. But his wrist work gives him some surprising lift and, when he allows the ball time in the air, sharp swing. The yorker, delivered from round the wicket, speared through Thorpe and removed his leg-stump.
Flintoff was to follow in the next over but it only precipitated a heady seventh-wicket stand of 78 in 17 overs from Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles. These are the perfect circumstances for Jones, when there is licence to make full use of the adrenalin that undoubtedly rushes through his system as he makes his way to the crease. His half-century, made at virtually a run a ball, contained five fours and three sixes.
Giles, who looks a more accomplished batsman by the match, chipped in with six fours and a six of his own in his 39.
Both fell victim to the persistence of Nel, Jones to an excellent catch by Smith at first slip and Giles to another full-length ball that snuck behind his legs and removed his leg-stump.
Nel bowled with flair and enthusiasm, and Harmison's wicket, lbw to round off a nice clean-up job, gave him six for 81, the best of his 11-match Test career. - Guardian Service
Overnight: South Africa 247 (AB de Villiers 92; S Jones 4-47, A Flintoff 4-44). England 114-4.
England First Innings
G Thorpe b Nel 86
A Flintoff c Boucher b Hall 77
G Jones c Smith b Nel 50
A Giles b Nel 39
M Hoggard c Kallis b Nel 1
S Jones not out 0
S Harmison lbw b Nel 6
Extras (b1 lb22 w8 nb4) 35
Total (123 overs) ... 359
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-29, 3-29, 4-114, 5-255, 6-257, 7-335, 8-351, 9-352.
Bowling: Pollock 21-11-30-2, Ntini 28-8-92-0, Nel 29-7-81-6, Hall 16-3-58-1, Boje 19-7-59-0, Kallis 2-0-5-0, Smith 8-2-11-0.
South Africa Second Innings - Close
AB de Villiers not out 20
H Gibbs c G Jones b Flintoff 4
A Hall b Flintoff 9
J Kallis not out 19
Extras (lb4 nb3) 7
Total (2 wkts, 19 overs) ... 59
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-29.
To Bat: G Smith, J Rudolph, M Boucher, S Pollock, N Boje, M Ntini.
Bowling: Hoggard 7-2-17-0, Flintoff 7-2-18-2, Giles 3-0-17-0, S Jones 2-1-3-0.
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