Proteas in England
Amla, Biff steady ship
2012-07-20 19:15
Graeme Smith (Gallo Images)
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London - England dismissed South Africa
opener Alviro Petersen for a duck after they had been bowled out for 385
in their first innings before tea on the second day of the first test
at the Oval on Friday.
Morne Morkel earlier finished off the
England innings to return figures of four for 72 while Dale Steyn and
Jacques Kallis claimed two wickets apiece. Alastair Cook added just one
run to his overnight score to depart for 115 while Matt Prior added a
punchy 60 in 90 balls.
It was an impressive fightback by the
Proteas after England resumed on 267 for three having looked in total
control on day one. The bowling was more accurate and aggressive,
although bowling conditions were better with the sun being replaced by
cloud cover.
Prior's innings was a vital contribution as England
at one point looked as if they were going to collapse with the score on
313 for seven.
The England wicketkeeper struggled early on but
after lunch was more fluent, hitting three fours in six balls in one
sequence. He reached his half-century by straight driving Vernon
Philander for four.
Prior was eventually Morkel's third victim
and was also one of AB de Villiers' five catches, which would please the
team after losing lost the services of veteran wicketkeeper Mark
Boucher to a freak eye injury on the first day of the tour.
Cook
was the first man to fall when he dragged a full length ball from Steyn
back on to his off-stump. Steyn then picked up Ravi Bopara, making his
latest comeback, for a duck when he mistimed a hook shot and edged to
the keeper.
Ian Bell was bowled for 13 by Kallis after some
clever swing and seam bowling that outfoxed the batsman. Stuart Broad
(16) and Graeme Swann (15 not out) chipped in down the order.
At
tea, captain Graeme Smith, playing his 100th test match, was 14 not out
and Hashim Amla was on 10 following the loss of Petersen, who was lbw to
James Anderson with one on the scoreboard.