England Cricket / Ed Hawkins / 06 January 2010 /

England may be asked to bat for up to four-and-a-half sessions to save the game in Cape Town after South Africa amassed a whopping lead. Can they manage it? Ed Hawkins guides us through the action

CLOSE 16.00 Eng 132-3
On the last five occasions when England have been asked to bat a whole day to save a Test, they have succeeded four times; Centurion and Cardiff being the most recent. So although South Africa need only seven wickets and 90 overs to get them, the workload is possibly greater than the odds might suggest. It should be another nailbiter tomorrow, so join us again from 08.30GMT. South Africa [1.32], England [44.00] and the draw [4.00].

15.50 Eng 129-3
Kevin Pietersen absolutely plumb to Dale Steyn, the No 1 bowler in the world. KP was falling over like a drunk into a canal on Boxing Day there. South Africa have hit back in fine style after struggling to get a breakthrough. England, who couldn't really afford to lose more than two wickets tonight according to the Sky comms team, are in a hole. They've got fight, though England.

WICKET 15.46 Eng 128-3
K Pietersen lbw b Steyn 6. South Africa [1.27], England [44.00] and the draw [5.00].

15.18 Eng 112-2
Paul Harris comes to the party. A bit late, Paul. But at least you've brought some nibbles. Or Something. Nice bit of spin for Harris there. That will do his confidence some good. Harris averages 28 in the fourth-innings in Tests with 11 wickets in eight matches. As I type, Kevin Pietersen has referred a leg before and has survived. Big inside edge. Chunky.

WICKET 15.11 Eng 107-2
A Strauss c Amla b Harris 45. South Africa [1.55], England [23.00] and the draw [3.30]

15.00 Eng 101-1
Alastair Cook has played a false shot. He's top edged a pull shot and Mark Boucher has safely pouched a skier. South Africa needed that. It puts them back on course for a series-levelling victory and restablishes them as favourites. Jonathan Trott comes in and immediately starts to get up the home side's noses by wasting time. This is ridiculous from Trott. It needs to be stamped out.

14.57 Eng 101-1
A Cook c Boucher b De Wet. South Africa [1.80], England [8.40] and the draw [2.60].

14.48 Eng 96-0
South Africa are really drifting now. Out to [2.40]. I guess that is fair enough. They have failed to average a wicket every 12 overs, which is the standard in this Test and for fourth innings on this ground. There is no need to panic, though. They have to average a wicket every 11 overs from here on in. Concern is allowed if that dips below 10 I reckon. Alastair Cook has 50.

14.28 Eng 87-0
At the drinks break we should highlight just what a monumental task faces England if they are to win this game. A world record fourth-innings chase aside by 48 runs, they also need to score their runs quickly. There are about 116 overs left in the Test, which means England would have to score at 3.3 runs per over to win. They went at 3.10 in their first innings and are going at 3 in this dig. Simply the [6.20] is an awful price.

14.05 Eng 80-0
Sacha has been in touch to discuss the opening combo for SA. "I would go with Petersen because I was very impressed with his composure as well as his technique in the ODI's. He looks made for international cricket. Cook's average and aggregate are inflated as a result of that massive 390 he scored, and I don't think he is ready for international cricket yet. I have always had doubts about Puttick's temperament at the highest level, but he is another option for the selectors to consider."

13.44 Eng 62-0
Let's get back to the business of discussing South Africa's opening partnership problem which was brought up by Portuguese Pirate (see 12.24). The word in South Africa is that Herschelle Gibbs will not come back. Too many chances etcetera. Mr McKenzie has retired so he won't return, either. The next cabs off the rank, so to speak, are believed to be Steven Cook, Alviro Petersen and Andrew Puttick. Petersen, remember, did okay in the one-day series. Here are their numbers in the domestic Supersport series this season:

Cook - 1029 runs in 10 matches at an average of 60.52

Petersen - 409 runs in 5 matches at an average of 58.42

Puttick - 481 runs in 8 matches at an average of 43.72

13.33 Eng 42-0
"They've just got to hope 466 is enough," says Shaun Pollock. Incredible, Shaun. And we wonder why South Africa, when you were in the team, were the most boring, predictable and negative side ever. We're back after tea.

TEA 13.12 Eng 38-0
England have safely negotiated that tricky spell. They have seen off the new ball, which was key and they did so with aplomb. Andrew Strauss (16) had a little bit of a wobble against Dale Steyn when he survived two big leg before shots but neither were referred. Alastair Cook (21) has pulled the ball nicely at the other end. South Africa [1.75], England [12.50] and the draw has collapsed to [2.82].

13.01 Eng 28-0
Before I answer Portuguese Pirate's second question, let's take a look at the match-odds market. As predicted, even a small partnership has caused major fluctuation. South Africa [1.57], England [13.50] and the draw [3.50].

12.43 Eng 15-0
To answer Portuguese Pirate's first question, which is obviously the most important, I would have to say that Lord's is some way ahead in the grub stakes. Fantastic lunches, decadent teas and copious amounts of biscuits and tea in between. Also, at HQ a few years back they had these special XXL-size mugs with a stencilled image of the Media Centre. I put one in my bag to take home and now drink from it during every blog. It was probably thievery.

12.24 Eng 5-0
Slightly off topic, but let's keep things fluid. Portuguese Pirate says: "Two questions Hawkeye. Which ground that you've been to offers journos the best food? Secondly: With Prince all over the shop who is the most likely player to open the batting in the final Test for SA and who is the long-term opening partner for Smith? They're not going to recall Gibbs are they? I think McKenzie is past it too."

12.04 Eng 1-0
England are underway. Remember, even a 30 or 40-run partnership will see overreaction on South Africa and draw prices. So we need to wager on when we think runs will be scored. The new ball is key. Batting should be pretty easy in about 15 overs' time. It is imperative for the tourists that Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook make a safe start. Morne Morkel charges in against his bunny Strauss.

11.52 SA 447-6dec
A really good declaration by South Africa. We should get about 55 overs from the remainder of the day and there are another 90 slated for tomorrow. That is a whopping 145 (pre-school maths there, folks) overs to get the 10 wickets. Our more complex sums suggested they needed only 120 so Graeme Smith has factored in a few more. Good on him. Encouraging to see he has learned from his Centurion dithering. South Africa into [1.41] and the draw [4.20]. But the big mover is England. They were as 'skinny' as [15.00] a minute ago. Clearly there are some who think they can chase down 466. Calm down, folks. It would be a world record by 48 runs.

11.39 SA 433-5
"SA will have to make the new ball count methinks. Hope Steyn can fire up and complement Morkel in Eng's second dig because I can't see Harris being a factor." So says Sacha on email.

11.25 SA 408-5
That wicket has not helped South Africa's cause for quick runs. They would have preferred that JP Duminy be heading back to the pavilion instead. England are quite happy, though. They have a collective thyroid problem, slow and ponderous, slightly confused and a bit tired.

WICKET 11.20 SA 399-4
AB de Villiers c Broad b Onions 32. South Africa [1.44], England [22.00] and the draw [3.65].

11.10 SA 397-4, lead by 414
At the resumption, let's take a look at how many overs South Africa will need to take 10 wickets. In this Test, a wicket has fallen every 12 overs. In the last five Tests at Cape Town, a wicket falls, on average, every 12 overs in the fourth innings. So 120 overs should do it. A crude summary? Not really. This mathematical sum worked well for us in those boring fourth-innings in the Caribbean last year. There are 65 overs left today and a schedule 90 tomorrow. Looks like the hosts can afford to bat for a while yet.

LUNCH 10.30 SA 397-4, lead by 414
Some intent from South Africa before the break has seen their price dip. AB De Villiers is playing some canny shots to keep the rate healthy, although JP Duminy, horribly out of form, is not helping. England are doing everything as slowly as possible, trying to eat up as much time as possible. After the break South Africa will probably bat on for an hour. Join us then to have a guess at how many overs South Africa will get to bowl at England but, more importantly, how many they need. South Africa [1.41], England [28.00] and the draw [3.80].

10.16 SA 388-4
You can probably discount the top number in the list below. That was a Timeless Test and the game had to be stopped because England were going to miss their boat home.

Highest fourth-innings totals
654-5 Eng v SA, Durban 1939
451 NZ v Eng, Christchurch 2002
445 Ind v Aus, Adelaide 1978
440 NZ v Eng, Nottingham 1973
431 NZ v Eng, Napier 2008

WICKET 10.04 376-4
J Kallis c Prior b Anderson 46. South Africa [1.47], England [29.00] and the draw [3.40].

09.54 SA 369-3
The draw is in to [3.65] and South Africa are out to [1.44]. We called this market move yesterday when suggesting a lay of the hosts at around [1.30] if memory serves. It's classic fluctuation as a Test reaches it conclusion.

09.40 SA 354-3
Apologies SA fans, I left off the tumultuous fourth-innings chase in Perth two years back in our initial list below. Important that, because it could be a factor in Graeme Smith's thinking. Sooner or later we'll have a look at how many overs are needed to take 10 wickets in the fourth innings in Cape Town as Jacques Kallis plods along, keeping the home side's run rate at a soporific 2.10 in the last 10.

09.30 SA 349-3
Highest fourth-innings chases
418 WI v Aus, St John's 02-03
414 SA v Aus, Perth 2008
404 Aus v England, Leeds 1948
403 India v WI, Port of Spain 1975-76
369 Aus v Pak, Hobart 1999-00
359 Aus v WI, Georgetown 1977-78
352 SL v SA, Colombo 2006

09.19 SA 347-3
A cracker of an innings from Graeme Smith. That's what you call performing under pressure. Time and time again Smith does it when it counts. Remember Edgbaston two years ago? Let's just have a chuckle for a mo at this thought: can you imagine Ian Bell producing such a knock? Ahhh dear, that is a good one. Comical.

WICKET 09.13 SA 346-3
G Smith c Collingwood b Onions 183. South Africa [1.33], England [30.00] and the draw [4.50].

09.12 SA 346-2
We should expect South Africa to bat on too long in this third innings. It would be totally to form. International captains always adopt a safety first approach in such situations. This blog has wasted much breath getting worked about it. Not today. Instead, we'll state facts and suggestions in a calm manner. Smith, of course, has recent form. In Centurion he batted on too long costing his side vital overs. What he would have done for an extra five or so to bowl at last man Graham Onions?

08.44 SA 326-2
The buzz around Newlands is that South Africa will bat until an hour after lunch. That would give them about four-and-a-half sessions to take 10 wickets. If they do that, it is liklely that the draw will be shorter than its current price at [4.80]. Indeed, it is already heading south as South Africa are circumspect against this new ball.

08.30 SA 313-2
England have taken the new ball. They will hope it produces the same sort of collapse we have seen on the mornings of day two and day three when seven wickets fell for chicken feed. Graeme Smith resumes on just the 162.

08.20 South Africa lead by 330 runs
How much do South Africa want to win this Test? Trailing after a loss in Durban, one would think they would be desperate to get back into the series. But being positive has rarely been a strong point. Graeme Smith needs time to bowl England out instead of runs. It should be a fascinating day. South Africa [1.32], England [22.00] and the draw [4.90]

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: