LONDON, – Jonny Bairstow fell five runs short of a maiden test century yesterday before South Africa took their lead in the match to 139 at the end of day three of the third and final test against England at Lord’s.
South Africa closed on 145 for three after England claimed the wickets of Proteas captain Graeme Smith (23) and fellow opener Alviro Petersen (24) after tea, and the key scalp of Jacques Kallis (31) late on.
Kallis showed dissent at his reviewed dismissal for the second time in the match. Hashim Amla was 57 not out while night-watchman Dale Steyn was yet to score. Amla was dropped on two when he gloved Stuart Broad down the leg side, but although wicketkeeper Matt Prior managed to get a full glove on the ball, he couldn’t hold on. The wicket of Kallis, though, would have buoyed England late on.
Bairstow made a fighting 95 and Graeme Swann added a vital 37 not out at the end to give England a modest first innings lead of six runs.
South Africa started their second innings cautiously, reaching 33 without loss at tea off 15 overs.
But Swann struck not long after, when Smith attempted to sweep the off-spinner and was adjudged leg before after failing to make contact.
That was 46 for one, and it was soon to be 50 for two.
Petersen fell two balls after Amla was dropped, when Broad trapped him lbw. Like Smith, he chose not to review the dismissal and replays showed it to be the right decision, as the ball would have struck leg stump.
Kallis and Amla put on 81 and were solid for the most part, ominously so for England, who would have well remembered their third-wicket partnership of 377 at The Oval in the first test, when South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs.
But the duo was separated when Kallis was lbw to Steven Finn. Kallis instantly called for a review, giving the impression he had hit it, but hotspot and regular replays did not show evidence to support the batsman’s protest. He walked off visibly annoyed and shaking his head. Bairstow, in the England side for the omitted Kevin Pietersen, was bowled by Morne Morkel trying to drive through mid-on. It was a courageous effort by the 22-year-old after coming to the crease at 54 for four, and he received a warm standing ovation by the capacity crowd.
SCOREBOARD
South Africa first innings
G.Smith c Prior b Anderson 14
A.Petersen c Prior b Finn 22
H.Amla b Finn 13
J.Kallis c Prior b Finn 3
AB de Villiers c Cook b Anderson 27
J.Rudolph b Swann 42
JP Duminy c Prior b Anderson 61
V.Philander st Prior b Swann 61
D.Steyn c Swann b Broad 26
M.Morkel c Prior b Finn 25
Imran Tahir not out 2
Extras (w-1 b-7 lb-5) 13
Total (all out, 101.2 overs) 309
Fall of wickets: 1-22 2-49 3-50 4-54 5-105 6-163 7-235 8-270 9-307 10-309
Bowling: Anderson 29-5-76-3, Broad 24-4-69-1, Finn 18-2-75-4 (1w), Swann 24.2-6-63-2, Trott 6-1-14-0
England first innings (overnight 208-5)
A.Strauss b Morkel 20
A.Cook c Kallis b Steyn 7
J.Trott lbw b Steyn 8
I.Bell c Petersen b Philander 58
J.Taylor c Smith b Morkel 10
J.Bairstow b Morkel 95
M.Prior c Kallis b Philander 27
S.Broad c Amla b Steyn 16
G.Swann not out 37
J.Anderson c Rudolph b Steyn 12
S.Finn c Duminy b Morkel 10
Extras (lb-10, w-1, nb-4) 15
Total (all out,107.3 overs) 315
Fall of wickets: 1-29 2-38 3-39 4-54 5-178 6-221 7-252 8-264 9-283
Bowling: Morkel 28.3-6-80-4 (4nb), Philander 24-9-48-2, Steyn 29-4-94-4, Kallis 12-3-29-0 (1w), Imran Tahir 14-3-54-0
South Africa second innings
G.Smith lbw b Swann 23
A.Petersen lbw b Broad 24
H.Amla not out 57
J.Kallis lbw b Finn 31
D.Steyn not out 0
Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-1) 10
Total (3 wickets, 50 overs) 145
To bat AB de Villiers, J.Rudolph, JP Duminy, VD Philander, M.Morkel, I.Tahir
Fall of wickets 1-46, 2-50, 3-131
Bowling: Anderson 9-2-32-0, Broad 10-1-38-1 (1nb), Swann 20-5-38-1, Finn 11-1-28-1