England crumble to 203 all out
Saturday, 19 July 2008
HEADINGLEY, July 18 (Cricinfo): England's new-look batting line-up struggled against South Africa's probing seam attack on a helpful Headingley pitch, crumbling to 203 all out by tea on the first day of the second Test. Kevin Pietersen cracked 45 from 46 balls, and Ian Bell 31, but there was no innings of substance from an altered middle-order as Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, in particular, applied consistent pressure in both sessions.
This Test was supposed to be dominated by Andrew Flintoff's return, but the limelight was stolen by England's shock decision to hand Nottinghamshire's Australian-raised Darren Pattinson his debut at the expense of the injured Ryan Sidebottom.
Pattinson, a roof-tiler born in Grimsby who has just 11 first-class matches under his belt, was left waiting in the pavilion for his first bowl as Graeme Smith chose to field in ideal bowling conditions.
Pattinson might be one of the most left-field selection decisions, but he has plenty of time to stamp his name on this match, if not the public consciousness.
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook began confidently enough, however, Strauss cutting the tireless but disappointing Makhaya Ntini over cover before pouncing on a shorter delivery from Steyn, hooking him powerfully around the corner.
If South Africa needed a stroke of luck, they got it in Morkel's second over. Cook attempted to flick a leg-side drifter around the corner, failing to make contact, but South Africa's raucous appeal was vindicated by Billy Bowden. The door was open.
Michael Vaughan lasted a mere seven balls when he edged Steyn's beautiful outswinger to Smith at first slip. It was the third time in five Tests that Steyn has removed the England captain through suspect defence of straight deliveries.
There were no such concerns for Kevin Pietersen, however, fresh from his hundred at Lord's. Steyn fed him with an easy-paced delivery on middle-stump, flamingo-flicking it through midwicket, though the bowler produced a corking comeback that beat Pietersen's outside edge.
Two balls later, a half-tracker was dispatched into the midwicket stand for the morning's most authoritative shot for six, as the drizzle began to fall more steadily.
England 203 (Pietersen 45, Steyn 4-76, Morkel 4-52) v South Africa.
This Test was supposed to be dominated by Andrew Flintoff's return, but the limelight was stolen by England's shock decision to hand Nottinghamshire's Australian-raised Darren Pattinson his debut at the expense of the injured Ryan Sidebottom.
Pattinson, a roof-tiler born in Grimsby who has just 11 first-class matches under his belt, was left waiting in the pavilion for his first bowl as Graeme Smith chose to field in ideal bowling conditions.
Pattinson might be one of the most left-field selection decisions, but he has plenty of time to stamp his name on this match, if not the public consciousness.
Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook began confidently enough, however, Strauss cutting the tireless but disappointing Makhaya Ntini over cover before pouncing on a shorter delivery from Steyn, hooking him powerfully around the corner.
If South Africa needed a stroke of luck, they got it in Morkel's second over. Cook attempted to flick a leg-side drifter around the corner, failing to make contact, but South Africa's raucous appeal was vindicated by Billy Bowden. The door was open.
Michael Vaughan lasted a mere seven balls when he edged Steyn's beautiful outswinger to Smith at first slip. It was the third time in five Tests that Steyn has removed the England captain through suspect defence of straight deliveries.
There were no such concerns for Kevin Pietersen, however, fresh from his hundred at Lord's. Steyn fed him with an easy-paced delivery on middle-stump, flamingo-flicking it through midwicket, though the bowler produced a corking comeback that beat Pietersen's outside edge.
Two balls later, a half-tracker was dispatched into the midwicket stand for the morning's most authoritative shot for six, as the drizzle began to fall more steadily.
England 203 (Pietersen 45, Steyn 4-76, Morkel 4-52) v South Africa.