de Villiers hundred hurts weary England
Monday, 21 July 2008
HEADINGLEY, July 20 (Cricinfo): AB de Villiers' sixth Test hundred has put South Africa firmly in command of the second Test at Headingley, leading by 277 at tea on the third day. England removed Ashwell Prince for 149 in a far-improved bowling display than yesterday, but with uneven bounce and movement troubling the batsmen, survival is England's only hope when their second innings gets underway.
Though admittedly they looked weary and exhausted, particularly after toiling for so long at Lord's too, England fought hard this morning - grateful for a pitch that at last offered seam movement. Both Prince and de Villiers could have fallen within the first hour. Inevitably, it was to Andrew Flintoff that Michael Vaughan turned for inspiration, and in a lively morning spell he found encouraging movement off the pitch, beating de Villiers with a neat leg-cutter and even luring the normally sober Prince into a washy drive outside off. There was assistance at last, but with Flintoff and James Anderson each racking up 40 overs by the tea interval, there must be a concern with England's lack of venom.
Anderson impressed throughout, though to judge by his pained expression and Angus Fraser-like kicks at the turf, his patience was beginning to wear thin - understandably so, too, as he passed the edge of Prince and de Villiers' bat time after time. de Villiers was particularly tentative, doubtless nervous about a possible hundred, and was beaten all ends up by a corking outswinger that came off his hip. England were at last making the batsman work.
That isn't to say they were entirely faultless, and for all Anderson's occasional jaffas, too often they were followed by half-volley gifts that de Villiers made sure to capitalise on, flicking through midwicket with fine timing.
South Africa 522 all out England trail by 319 runs at 10:10 pm.
Though admittedly they looked weary and exhausted, particularly after toiling for so long at Lord's too, England fought hard this morning - grateful for a pitch that at last offered seam movement. Both Prince and de Villiers could have fallen within the first hour. Inevitably, it was to Andrew Flintoff that Michael Vaughan turned for inspiration, and in a lively morning spell he found encouraging movement off the pitch, beating de Villiers with a neat leg-cutter and even luring the normally sober Prince into a washy drive outside off. There was assistance at last, but with Flintoff and James Anderson each racking up 40 overs by the tea interval, there must be a concern with England's lack of venom.
Anderson impressed throughout, though to judge by his pained expression and Angus Fraser-like kicks at the turf, his patience was beginning to wear thin - understandably so, too, as he passed the edge of Prince and de Villiers' bat time after time. de Villiers was particularly tentative, doubtless nervous about a possible hundred, and was beaten all ends up by a corking outswinger that came off his hip. England were at last making the batsman work.
That isn't to say they were entirely faultless, and for all Anderson's occasional jaffas, too often they were followed by half-volley gifts that de Villiers made sure to capitalise on, flicking through midwicket with fine timing.
South Africa 522 all out England trail by 319 runs at 10:10 pm.