Rain wins on day four

Benj Moorehead at Headingley

Heavy rain descended upon Headingley today to virtually rule out a positive result in the second Test between England and South Africa. 

South Africa lead by 33 runs with all 10 wickets in hand going into the last day and only the arch optimist will believe England can win tommorow. "Hopefully it’ll be a lovely overcast day all day and hoop around and we’ll pick up 10 wickets," said Matt Prior - with a telling smile. 

Only 37.4 overs were bowled on a day in which England failed to take the significant lead they needed to apply some pressure to a South African batting line-up hit by injury.

Graeme Smith took the field with his knee strapped, while Alviro Petersen continued to watch from the sidelines with a hamstring tear sustained during his innings of 182 two days ago. Jacques Kallis did not take the field because of a back spasm and the South African management said that, of the three, he was "the main concern". Kallis must be considered a doubt for the third and final Test at Lord's starting on August 16. 

It was decadent to have wanted more from Kevin Pietersen this morning but it was still a disappointment to the Headingley crowd when Morne Morkel angled a full straight delivery on to his pads with the second ball of the day. Pietersen, out for 149, hardly bothered consulting Matt Prior, his partner, about a possible review.

In a flash England’s optimistic hopes of getting a result from this match were dashed. Still, Bresnan provided able support to Prior, who cantered to a 68, either whipping freely off his pads or driving through cover on the rare occasion he was provided with any width.

Bresnan's dismissal, caught at slip off Vernon Philander, precipitated a mini-collapse in which England lost their last four wickets for 29 runs. Stuart Broad top-edged a pull off Imran Tahir to midwicket, Prior swept the spinner into long leg's hands and Anderson swiped and, fatally, missed.

Thus Tahir finished with three wickets. He was the thorn in England's side this morning, even without getting much turn. The trick was to come round the wicket and bowl outside the leg stump so that Prior and the rest would have to play against the spin to score. None managed it.

The sun had kissed the Headingley green all morning but now, as the South African openers appeared for a tricky 15 minutes before lunch, dark cloud collected above the ground. It was as if James Anderson was god of the skies.

But Smith and Jacques Rudolph, opening in place of Petersen, got through to lunch. This was the cue for the first heavy downpour, which kept the players off the field until just before 3pm. Broad and Anderson had another go at the openers and bowled with skill but without luck. When the rain swamped upon Headingley again an hour later, Smith and Rudolph had started to look solid. Their work was done for the day.

Tomorrow would appear to be a day of formalities, meaning this Test match will be remembered for an outstanding innings by Kevin Pietersen, one of his very best. 






 

Date: 05/08/2012 18:17:47 by BMoorehead
In: Today | England |