Proteas in England
Proteas steady to lunch
2012-08-06 14:34
Leeds - South African opening batsmen
Jacques Rudolph and Graeme Smith batted soundly on a rain-hit fifth and
final day of the second Test against England at Headingley on Monday.
Live Scoring South
Africa were 123 for one at lunch, a lead of 117. Play was twice
interrupted by rain and only 21 overs were bowled despite lunch being
delayed by half an hour.
England's only success came when
part-time off-spinner Kevin Pietersen trapped Rudolph leg before wicket
with his second delivery in the last over before lunch - the second time
in the match Pietersen had dismissed Rudolph with his second ball.
By
then, though, Rudolph and Smith (50 not out) had virtually ensured that
the match would end in a draw. South Africa lead the three-match series
1-0 and England will need to win the final Test starting at Lord's on
August 16 to avoid the tourists usurping their number one ranking in
Test cricket.
Although both James Anderson and Stuart Broad
produced some hostile deliveries on an overcast morning, Rudolph played
some stylish strokes, while captain Smith was solid, reaching his
half-century off 103 balls off the last delivery before lunch.
Rudolph,
returning to what was his home ground during five years playing for
English county Yorkshire, drove fluently to reach his half-century off
92 balls with nine fours.
He also had an all-run four and added another three boundaries in facing another 30 deliveries before his dismissal.
Rudolph
was opening the batting in place of Alviro Petersen, who suffered a
hamstring injury while making top score of 182 in the first innings.