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No repeat of 1981

Tuesday, August 26 2003

The bookmakers quoted England at 12-1 before the inception of the final day of the Headingley Test match with South Africa. The general feeling was that a wicket early on would see the hosts tumble without a scrap. If, however, the home side could survive the morning session with Mark Butcher and Andrew Flintoff still involved, they could pull off the biggest upset since Botham's and Willis' heroics in 1981.

The expectant assemblage at Leeds gave the warmest of welcomes to Flintoff and Butcher as they strode onto the famous turf for the concluding day of this Test. The first delivery was beautifully timed over square leg for four as the rapturous crowd once again raised it's hopes. Mark Butcher became victim to excellent bowling from Jacques Kallis the second delivery of the day as he edged through to Andrew Hall at first slip. Hopes of a victory followed him into the pavilion and an eerie feeling of inevitability set in.

Andrew Flintoff has become something of a cult hero amongst the English fans, and he reached his third Test fifty from Kallis' second over of the day. His subdued reaction to applause for his achievement displayed a certain feeling of disappointment that his toils would go unrewarded. He too fell to Kallis, and once again it was the subsequent delivery to a mighty boundary. A delivery of good line spat at him forcing him to play and he edged through to Hall, who once again was dependable at first slip. Flintoff has been seen by many as the man who will one day produce a Botham-esque spectacle, and as he departed the portly operatic woman could be faintly heard, flexing her vocal chords in anticipation of the end.

Kallis only had to wait for his next over before securing his fifth wicket and knocking down England's eighth. It was another tremendous delivery which was too good for Martin Bicknell who could only push at it and edged it through to wicket keeper, Mark Boucher. Kabir Ali - on debut - offered some fiery renitence for his nine runs before Kallis took his sixth wicket when Ali skied a good length ball to Gary Kirsten at mid on.

Jimmy Anderson may average 43.00 in Test match cricket, but his entry wasn't going to have a significant bearing on the result. He did, however, pick up his seventh not out as it was his partner, James Kirtley who was the victim of Andrew Hall. Kirtley drove a good ball to gully and a diving Gary Kirsten was the recipient of the final act of the Test. England can only tie the series now, should they overcome the odds and win at the AMP Oval in a fortnight. South Africa will see this as the decisive moment of their tour as they have surely taken the series beyond the reaches of England.

Honourable mentions go to Andrew Hall for his 99*, Jacques Kallis for his nine wickets, Monde Zondeki for his valiant innings on debut and to Mark Butcher and Andrew Flintoff for adding over 200 runs to their side's totals.

Cricketweb man of the match goes to Gary Kirsten for his 130 in nigh on unplayable conditions and his crucial 60 in the third innings, taking the match out of reach for his opponents.

Posted by Lee