Stuart Broad made a breakthrough for England as South Africa struggled to erase their first innings deficit on the third day of the fourth and final Test at the Oval yesterday.
South Africa were 110 for two in their second innings at lunch, still 12 behind England’s first innings total.
Hashim Amla was the mainstay of the South African innings, reaching a half-century off 64 balls with 10 crisply-struck boundaries. He was unbeaten on 71 at lunch.
PHOTO: AP
Play started half an hour late because of rain and a further shower ended the morning session eight minutes early.
In gloomy conditions, overnight batsmen Neil McKenzie and Amla made steady progress against some wayward bowling from Steve Harmison and James Anderson.
They took the total from the overnight 37 for one to 82 before the first bowling change of the day brought success.
Broad replaced Anderson and with his fourth delivery bowled McKenzie off an inside edge for 29.
Andrew Flintoff came on for Harmison and was punched through the covers off the back foot as Amla reached his fifty.
Amla had an escape on 58 when an attempted drive against Flintoff flew off an inside edge. Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose flung himself to his left but could not hold a difficult chance.
On Friday, captain Kevin Pietersen hit a thrilling century to put England in a powerful position.
Pietersen’s dream start as England captain continued when his team took a first innings lead of 122 before Anderson struck with the fifth ball of the second innings to have South African captain Graeme Smith LBW for nought.
Pietersen said playing the game was an enjoyment after the build-up and the media work following his appointment on Monday.
“I just play the game I love. The nonsense before the game you have to do, the scrutiny that goes with it, the attention, you’ve got to do it,” he said. “But I was so happy when I flipped the coin yesterday and knew the cricket was on its way.”
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