Hopes are fading

Like the light all day, South Africa's chances of saving the series are fading. With just 2 days left, they need 16 wickets as well as to score enough runs to ensure they remain ahead of England, and if today's weather is anything to go by, that will be nigh on impossible.

With the match situation, it was perhaps a surprise that Graeme Smith didn't declare overnight, with just 1 wicket remaining, and the need for as much time as possible with which to get a result.

When Simon Jones removed Andrew Hall with just the second ball of the morning - a short wide one that was hit straight to third man, it meant an extra 10 minute delay with no benefit in terms of runs.

In reply, Marcus Trescothick started in inspired mood, crashing 4 fours on his way to 20 from just 26 balls before disaster struck. Andrew Strauss drove the ball back past the bowler Makhaya Ntini and called for a single, only to revoke his call when Nico Boje swooped and with a direct hit, Trescothick's turn and dive was short.

South Africa's tail was up, and within a quarter of an hour, 2 more men were out - both wickets for Shaun Pollock. First Robert Key glanced a leg-side ball to Mark Boucher for 1 and then captain Michael Vaughan showed no sense in pulling at a bouncer and top edging it straight to Jacques Rudolph at mid-wicket for a 4 ball duck.

Suddenly it was 29-3 and the home side were baying for more, but that sort of situation is the sort that Graham Thorpe relishes - and today was to be no disappointment for England.

The veteran left hander dug in, with no regard for runs at this stage, he and Strauss saw off all that the South Africans could throw at them, as the recalled Andre Nel in particular was in a fiery mood, although he seemed to be using his mouth as much as his bowling.

No matter what though, the 2 batsmen made it through to lunch, which they reached at 66-3.

From then on, the weather took control, as there was only about 1 hour more play possible amidst some amazing lightening flashes.

Considering the stoppages, Thorpe and Strauss did very well to keep the scoreboard turning over at a very reasonable rate, as they added a further 48 runs as the light continued to worsen, and Nel remained hostile, 1 ball hitting Strauss on the helmet and racing away for 4 leg byes.

That may have unsettled him as although he hit a trademark boundary through cover the next ball, he chased the last ball of the over and edged through to Boucher - a disaster for England in the circumstances, and with an hour more play scheduled, Andrew Flintoff entered the fray.

As it transpired, Flintoff didn't face a ball, as Smith brought back Ntini, who proceeded to ball a couple of short balls, which was enough for the light to be offered and gratefully accepted.

This has been a fine Test series, and the events of the 4th Test mean we can't yet discount a result, but if either side can win from here, it'll be a sensational performance.

SOUTH AFRICA 247
de Villiers 92, Flintoff 4-44, Jones 4-47
ENGLAND 114-4
Strauss 44, Thorpe 32*, Pollock 2-22

Posted by Marc