Email Us Forum Mail Article Print Article

Eng vs SA: Day 2

Saturday, August 16 2003

England took control of the 2nd nPower test match at Trent Bridge with the wickets of both South African openers late in the day.

It was Harmison who struck first blood as a full length ball took the inside edge of H Gibbs's bat and resulting in the off stump being sent cart wheeling backwards not for the first time this series.

However it was A Flintoff who made the massive break through when during a bowling a brilliant spell of bowling that forced the South African captain on the back foot, unfortunately for Smith he took just a step to far and dislodged his bail with his back foot for a well crafted 35.

Earier in the day England re-starting the day on 296/3, and they were soon back in the swing of things during the morning session with both the former captain Nasser Hussain and Ed Smith looking relatively untroubled.

Nasser Hussain had progressed his overnight total from 108* to 116 in just over half an hour of play before being caught plum in front and no hesitation from the umpire who raised the finger.

Ed Smith who had unsurprisingly showed first day nerves looked a lot more at home and it wasn't long before he bought up his maiden Test fifty, however just as the partnership began to form with the veteran keeper Stewart, Ed Smith was beaten by a late out swinger and got a regulation knick through to the waiting M Boucher for a fine 64 on his Test debut.

Enter the star of the England 2nd innings at Lord's A Flintoff, with Flintoff you know you will get something special or not much and today was no exception with Flintoff being tied down for 20 balls without any success before he getting a big edge through to Pollock at 1st slip for a 20 ball duck.

Stewart then proceeded to bat sensible with the lower order and tail as he hit big boundaries and kept taking the strike when required. A Giles lead the support with a stubborn 22 from 64 balls before he was clean up by a ball that got through the gap.

The tail offered resistance but it was Stewart that was doing the bulk of the running as the South Africans seemed to be going through the motions and expecting the England tail to just give way, however they batted with intelligence and added what could be a vital 57 runs in the context of the match with the pitch already playing up in just the second day.

Posted by Richard