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Live Test Match Blogging: England v South Africa

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England are in the driving seat going into day three of the final Test against South Africa. Kevin Pietersen got his ton on his debut as Test captain but will it be enough to also give him his first win? Ed Hawkins talks us through all the action.

16.57 SA 110-2
Play has been abandoned for the day. There are still 180 overs left in this match. When you think of it like that, the draw to lay price of [3.20] is very tempting. It may be bigger tomorrow but runs bring it down. Let's have a good, hard think before acting, though. See you tomorrow.

16.45 SA 110-2 RAIN
Play today looks increasingly unlikely. Puddles on the pitch and rain still falling.

16.00 SA 110-2 RAIN
A five-game one-day series between these sides follows the Test action. A sneak preview of what could happen has just been on Sky. They've been showing highlights of Herschelle Gibbs' century against England at Jo'burg in the fourth Test in 2005. Tremendous hitting through the offside over point and cover. Gibbs, of course, has just been called up to SA's one-day squad.

15.20 SA 110-2 RAIN
Still raining at The Oval. I've been watching the Olympics instead. The gymnastics are on at the moment. Tremendous stuff for two reasons. 1 It is mind-boggling as to how these athletes manage such feats 2 And if they don't, they have excellent whammos when they crash into the mat. It seems to me the successful performers are lithe and relaxed which leads me to believe that the best way to ensure medal glory is to attempt it while drunk.

14.38 SA 110-2 RAIN
I have been watching the Shergar Cup in the absence of any cricket. What a pointless competition this is when racing is already suffering from a ludicrously packed calendar. If anyone has any idea when racing will wake up and realise that for the sport to enjoy longevity and popularity with the public, it needs to reduce the amount of racing, rather than add to the overblown fixture list that we currently have to put up with, email me at hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk

trong>13.50 SA 110-2 RAINStill coming down at The Oval. Disappointing. Draw price is around the [4.00] mark so we'll be watching that as well as the skies. In a spectacular piece of trend bucking I'm going to have a salad for lunch. Yep. Spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, mozarella cheese, a olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing plus two chocoltae hob nobs.

12.54 SA 110-2 RAIN
They will take an early lunch. I'm getting excited about the prospect of laying the draw. It's at [4.1] to lay currently.

12.40 SA 99-2
Tim Ambrose is a man under pressure. He could have released all of it just a few moments ago if he had held onto a brilliant diving catch from Amla's edge off Flintoff's bowling. It was an inside edge so flew to Ambrose's left. He dived full stretch, it went into to his left glove but fell out again as he hit the turf. You can't criticise Ambrose for it but careers turn on such moments. England need a keeper to take such chances. Ambrose probably isn't it.

12.28 SA 82-2
Stuart Broad has bowled Neil McKenzie. England went from [2.00] to [1.70]. Nasser Hussain would make a good in-running punter. He correctly pointed out that McKenzie's head was falling over to the legside, making him vulnerable. Broad bowled a full one, McKenzie's bonce went to his left, leaving a gap for the ball to squeeze through.

12.17 SA 77-1
England have hit even money. The draw price is coming down rapidly, too. Far quicker than I thought. It's [4.2] to lay at the moment.

12.05 SA 60-1
If I was batting for SA this morning I would still be at the crease. Why? Because not one of the deliveries England have bowled so far would have hit the stumps. Commiserations to anyone who backed England this morning. It must be frustratinmg because when you have such a bet the very least to expect is for the bowlers to bowl a few straight. A fine example of what a frustrating and difficult sport this is to bet on.

11.45 SA 46-1
This Test has suffered from a slow over rate because of too many spectators walking behind the bowlers' arm. Solution: each steward should be armed with a Tazer gun so as soon as a fan approaches when he shouldn't, zap! Play continues. I reckon this plan would increase the over rate by at least three overs an hour. If Tazer's are a bit much, what about a cattle prod? The reach is just as good and they are a more visible deterrent.

11.30 SA 37-1
We're underway. I've just been cogitating about the draw price. I reckon we might be able to lay sub [4.00] if SA get past England's lead quite early on in the second session. There's a bit of rain falling again now. Drizzle only, though. They could play on through this.

11.10 SA 37-1 RAIN
We should get play in 20 minutes folks.

11.00 SA 37-1 RAIN
Cor! It's a beautiful day in west London. Unfortunately it's not so nice in the south. There has been rain at The Oval. A wet outfield is preventing play at the mo. Bad weather was forecast today though, so we shouldn't be alarmed. Indeed the bright skies in this corner of the city have to be encouraging. The draw price is coming in a bit. You can lay at [4.9]. That is the bet we'll be hoping to have today, although at skinnier odds.

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