England Cricket / Ed Hawkins / 16 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

South Africa could be under pressure for quick runs in Johannesburg with the weather beginning to threaten their victory chance. Ed Hawkins takes us through the action

CLOSE 16.02 Eng 48-3
It's 18.00 in Johannesburg which is the designated time for close of play. The hosts will hold realistic hopes of levelling (or as my flatmate would say 'levellising') the series tomorrow. If the visitors are to avoid defeat they will need help from the skies and a heroic partnership between Colly and KP.
SA [1.16] Eng [55] Draw [7.8]
See you back here tomorrow for the day four action.

15.32 Eng 48-3 - Bad light stops play
SA [1.17] Eng [65.0] Draw [7.40]

Excellent display of hostile fast bowling. South Africa will be delighted with their work here. They are in a supremely dominant position.

15.30 Eng 48-3
A major blow for the hosts and first Test wicket for Wayne Parnell. Strauss appealed that one on height. There was no inside edge otherwise we'd have seen an immediate appeal as it was KP and his captain had a chat before going to the video. The ball looks like it would've just clipped the bails so the verdict goes with the on field umpire.
Wouldn't you know it? The light metres are out again just as Collingwood appears at the crease.

15.25 WICKET Eng 48-3
AJ Strauss lbw b Parnell 22. SA [1.15] Eng [75.0] Draw [7.8]

15.15 Eng 40-2
The sun is out now but England will not want to get carried away today. If England's 'marquee' players are still at the crease tomorrow they won't want to be blocking each and every delivery in a rearguard battle just yet. The host's lead is now 203. They have only a second-string spinner to work with (Duminy) and the visitors will want to score runs in a bid to try and shift the pressure off themselves by narrowing the deficit.

15.03 Eng 23-2
We're back in action and this is a beastly time for KP and Strauss. The light is better but you could imagine that they may only be out for 25 minutes or 45 minutes, it's anyone's guess.

14.44 Eng 22-2
Nearly all the twos. England now two down for 22 and they trail 221.
Trott's unhappy trot continues. KP has yet to make a mark on this
series and he's been given a hostile welcome to the crease. He will
have to do something heroic to help England to their third 'great
escape'.
The annoying thing about the timing of that wicket is that it is was
just starting to get dark. Indeed Trott was trying to alert the umps
to the light just before he fell. The light meter has been brought
out. There it is . . . bad light stops play. We could yet resume if light improves.

14.40 WICKET Eng 21-2

14.30 Eng 6-1
This time it's Cook who hands the hosts an early breakthrough. I was
just about to say before the wicket that we could expect a partnership
of note see draw prices fold. However there is still a bit of pace and
bounce and the wicket brings extra pressure. Not least for Trott who
looked distinctly uncomfortable in the first innings.

14.24 WICKET Eng 6-1
A Cook c Smith b Morkel 1 SA [1.29] Eng [55.0] Draw [4.8]

14.20 Eng 6-0
Strauss will be pleased to be off a king-pair. But he will also be a
little relieved at how well the pitch has been playing, especially
against the new ball. Remember earlier today England had most joy with
the old ball. A decent partnership will see the draw odds fall.

14.07 Eng 0-0
First objective for England is to see the day out. There are 36 overs
left in the day but light should mean that the tourists will not need
to face fewer than that.
Just as a point of interest I've done some numbers work on averages in
a third innings of a fourth Test abroad for England's batters.
Strauss 23
Cook 159
Pietersen 73
Bell 30
Collingwood 39
What we learn is that Cook's tours is more than a headline writer's
dream, it's a statistical reality. The top England 2nd innings bat
market has yet to settle properly yet but we can back Cook to top the
pops at [4.10] now.

13.56 SA 423-7 Declared
Wouldn't you know it. Swan takes starts a new spell and nabs a
wicket. Dale Steyn strides up and the expectation is that he'll knock
the ball about with a view to extending the host's lead yet further.
But after an over or so Smith decides he's got enough (243-run lead)
and calls the boys back in.
SA [1.44] Eng [38.0] Draw [3.44]

13.50 WICKET SA 419-7
MV Boucher c Trott b Swann 95 SA [1.51] Eng [42.0] Draw [3.15]

13.35 SA 411-6
Boucher (92) and McLaren 928). South Africa will wait for Boucher to get his ton. But surely they won't bat on until the wally with the brolly gets a 50? They lead by a massive 231 now. More than enough. I'm impartial, of course, but if they're going to be silly about it I hope South Africa are denied. By the way Boucher, under the auspices of Any Other Batsman, is [2.00] for top SA bat. He only needs another 14.

13.19 SA 397-6
We're playing a guessing game, folks. The question is: how much longer do South Africa bat? Of course, I'd declare now. There seems little point adding another 30 or 40 given the desperation of the situation for the hosts - they absolutely must win. Time not runs, South Africa. A mantra they should heave learned by now. The draw is [2.92]. With the odd solid partnership when England are batting, that will be hovering around the [2.00] mark.

13.08 SA 382-6
Oh a restart! That's caught me unaware, I was cooking my kippers. We've only lost four overs.The draw price has readjusted to [2.70] and South Africa [1.59]. Apparently the big storm missed The Wanderers so we should be okay, rain wise, for the rest of the day. The light could be a problem, though. A total of 48 overs to be bowled.

WET OUTFIELD 12.36 SA 382-6
We're taking tea in four minutes time to save precious overs. The rain has stopped and the outfield is not flooded. So hopefully we'll get an inspection after tea and then a re-start time of 13.30.

12.12 RAIN
News from the groundsman. Thanks to yesterday's downpour, inevitably, the water table
is extremely high, so we should not expect the outfield to drain as quickly. It's black and tumbling it down.

RAIN 12.02 SA 382-6
It is getting quite dark at The Wanderers now ... oh, as I type off the players scurry as a clap of thunder is heard overhead. The draw dips to [2.24] from [2.40]. Well, if the storm is as bad as yesterday, we could be off four a couple of hours. So long as the rain stops, we should get some more play because of the excellent drainage. South Africa are [1.84] with England [70.00]. The hosts should really declare with a 201-run lead.

11.53 SA 372-6
A bit of a boring spell here. It would seem everyone is waiting for the rain to come. Ryan McLaren, on Test debut, has slowed up South Africa a touch. They lead by 192. Surely a lead of 200 is enough for a side who have to win and are under time constraints because of the weather.

11.36 SA 355-6
Given that was the fourth time De Villiers was out, 58 runs is not the best of returns. It's about to rain. Look at how the draw price has collapsed in the last few minutes. It's just hit [2.44]. South Africa out to [1.75]. Only 15 minutes ago they were [1.56].

WICKET 11.32 SA 355-6
AB De Villiers c Collingwood 58. South Africa [1.73], England [38.00] and the draw [2.52].

11.22 SA 344-5
We are expecting rain in 30 or 40 minutes, similar to the time it arrived yesterday. The draw is [2.72]. Yesterday we were able to back the stalemate in anticipation of rain and then lay off at shorter odds when the heavens opened. AB De Villiers and Mark Boucher both have half-centuries.

11.15 SA 337-5
This is good from South Africa. That's 13 off Graeme Swan''s over. They shorten up a little to [1.56]. Are they looking to get to a lead of 200 quickly and then declare?

10.32 SA 322-5, lead by 144 runs
AB De Villiers gets away with another one as we go to lunch. A clear inside edge off Ryan Sidebottom to Matt Prior behind the stumps but the ump was unmoved. England had no reviews left. The tourists are developing an unhealthy complex at the moment. They think the world is against them after the Smith decision yesterday and being on the wrong end of another 'edge' this morning, again off De Villiers. So cross are they that they have asked the ICC to reinstate one of their reviews because the Smith call was such a shocker. I don't agree with that. It sets a dangerous precedent and England would be well advised to take their medicine, no matter how bitter. South Africa have fought back well after losing three cheap wickets this morning and you would have to say the session is theirs after seeing off the new ball. South Africa [1.48], England [30.00], the draw [3.25].

10.13 SA 302-5
Lucy Verasamy, this blog's official weather girl (she also does bits and bobs for Sky), says it is difficult to predict when the thunderstorms will arrive. That's not a great help to us but it does give us an excuse to ogle her here. Gosh, she's great isn't she? The considerably less attractive Shaun Pollock reckons it'll rain at 12.00GMT.

09.53 SA 293-5
As AB De Villiers and Mark Boucher do a fine job of combating this new ball, I thought I'd share with you a release from the ICC about yesterday's controversy, when Daryl Harper was rumoured not to have turned up the volume on the stump microphone for the Graeme Smith 'edge'. The words of match ref Roshan Mahanama below.

"The third umpire, when reviewing the decision, used a range of technologies that were made available to him by the host broadcaster, including the slow-motion replays, amplified stump microphone sound (at normal speed and slow motion), approved ball-tracking technology and pitch mat generated by the ball-tracking technology.

"During the review, the TV umpire followed the correct protocol and as he did not hear any noise to indicate the ball hitting the bat, he recommended Mr Hill to uphold his earlier decision. It must be noted that umpire's decision is final.

"There have also been suggestions in a section of the press that Mr Harper had turned down the feed volume. It is clarified that the volume on the third umpire's feed, right throughout the series, had been configured to optimise the quality of the audio, by both an SABC Head Engineer and the ICC technical advisor.

09.30 SA 277-5
Controversy alert. It appears that Daryl Harper may have been hasty in overturning the first AB De Villiers review, when he was caught off the glove. Subsequent replays have shown a deflection off the glove, and even one of the bat as he completes a sweep shot.

09.13 SA 268-5
England have a new ball. We should expect wickets because even with the old ball, there was some uneven bounce as it hits the indentations from day one. AB De Villiers continues to be a lucky so-and-son. He has overturned a leg before decision. But he got another slice of fortune. After he was struck on the pad the ball rolled back to hit his stumps but didn't dislodge the bails. England [12.50] and South Africa [1.50].

09.03 SA 251-5
AB De Villiers has successfully overturned a glove-pad decision against him off Swann. Still, South Africa are struggling against the spin of Swann. Such is the bounce and turn that they are struggling to get on top of the ball, which is bringing in close catchers into play, particularly leg slip.

08.48 SA 240-5
It is amazing how often Graeme Swann strikes in the first over of a spell. Did I hear right that it is now 15 times in his Test career? Genuine bounce and spin for Swann which makes a mockery of previous spinners' woes on this ground. Three wickets for England this morning, 25 runs for South Africa. A new ball just around the corner so Paul Collingwood comes on.

WICKET 08.44 SA 235-5
JP Duminy c Collingwood b Swann 5. South Africa [1.56], England [11.00] and the draw [3.60]

08.34 SA 233-4
AB De Villiers and JP Duminy are the new batsmen at the crease. They are two men that on this sort of pitch, which is still offering movement, England will fancy their chances of getting cheaply. They are both expansive players who want to get on with it, a risky style when there is seam and swing. England have a new ball in 10 overs to reinforce the opinion that they are rapidly coming back into the contest. The lead is 53.

08.20 SA 221-4
The trend in this series for early morning wickets continues. Ryan Sidebottom has struck twice, removing Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis. England are now trading at [18.00] as they trail by 41 runs. But that could be irrelevant. It is time that South Africa need, rather than runs so England will continue to shorten as it dawns on punters that their victory chances improve. Remember, South Africa have to win so with heavy rain forecast for later today, they may have to keep Andrew Strauss' side interested.

WICKET 08.14 SA 217-4
J Kallis c Anderson b Sidebottom 7. South Africa [1.66], the draw [2.60] and ENgland [22.00]

WICKET 08.11 SA 217-3
H Amla c Prior b Broad 75. South Africa [1.64], the draw [2.70] and England [32.00].

08.00 SA 215-2
Morning all. Welcome to the third day of our fourth Test betting blog. We could be in for a bit of a thriller of a day. The poor weather forecast means South Africa are going to have to get a shufty on, which could give England a chance of getting back into the game. The mathematicians reckon that there may only be two days' of action left when the rain has had its say. Market fluctuations expected. England as big as [40.00]

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