SA vs England: Day 2

A 257 run partnership by the South African captain Graeme Smith and Gary Kirsten put South Africa in complete control of the second nPower test at Lord's

South Africa were made to wait 75 minutes at the start of the day to resume their overnight total of 151/1.

After the long wait to get under way the morning session was reduced to around a hour and a half in length, however this was more than enough time for the South Africans to tighten their grip on the game adding 65 runs.

In the morning session Graeme Smith continued where he left of the night before and it wasn't long before he bought up his own century in relatively quick time of 155 balls including 16 fours.

After lunch the South Africans came out and immediately went on the attack with Graeme Smith imparticular looking in fantastic form. Meanwhile at the other end an ultra determined Kirsten was content to play the supporting role to Smith but his contribution was also crucial in ensuring that England were offered no break through.

During the afternoon session South Africa piled on the runs and it was shortly after Kirsten bought up his fifty when Andrew Flintoff induced the edge which flew straight to Mark Butcher at second slip, who fumbled the catch a couple of times before it finally found it's way to the turf. At least at the end of the day he could still claim to the team the dropped catch wasn't to be as expensive as Nasser's.

The let of didn't halt the progress that the South Africans were making and midway through the evening session Kirsten who was dropped on 54 by Mark Butcher hit a fantastic cover-drive off Darren Gough to reach his determined century from 229 balls, including 14 fours.

Just an over later and Smith bought up yet another double hundred, his second in consecutive matches and his third of his career with a cover drive down to the boundary for an easy three. Smith's 200 came from 287 balls consisted of 27 fours.

As so often the case once a batsman reaches three figures for whatever reason they get out soon after and again today was the case when a swinging McGrath delivery bowled Kirsten through the gate for a fine 108 in just his 2nd over. Quite baffling was how McGrath took 3/16 on his debut back in May at the same ground and it took until South Africa were just past the 100th over of their innings nearly 3 months later for him to bowl again.

The wicket didn't inspire the England troops to up their game; instead it was again plain sailing for the new batsman Dippenaar who hit two 4's on route to 11* when bad light bought play to a slightly surprising premature end, but with 3 full days left in this match and the weather set fair Smith has time to play with.

Smith himself ended a fabulous day for himself 214 not out and the South African team in a commending position of 412/2, a lead of 239. With so many records falling today, don’t bet against a few more going tomorrow…


Posted by Richard