The Hindu : Sport : South Africa just about hangs on

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

Sport

Sport

South Africa just about hangs on

By Ted Corbett

DURBAN, DEC. 30. England was just two wickets short of victory — and a calendar year record of 12 wins — when the second Test was abandoned as a draw with 15 overs remaining.

It still leads the series against South Africa 1-0 but if it could have squeezed in another couple of overs England would probably have crowned a superb fight back with a win.

Instead, the notorious Durban weather crept over the ground after tea before one ferocious spell from Steve Harmison played a part in the final wicket to fall after the new wicket-keeper AB de Villiers and Shaun Pollock put on 95 for the eighth wicket so that when the new ball was taken there was still a chance of an upset by the South Africans.

Crucial run out

Pollock was hit on both hands and then run out by a direct hit by Simon Jones from ten yards away at point.

It was a dramatic end to the roller coaster Test but England did not have time to wrap up a win it deserved for its fighting recovery.

A lone trumpeter with a repertoire of Welsh songs played England on to the field and encouraged it throughout the day, although he reserved his best efforts for Simon Jones, with The Land of my Fathers a reference to his father another England fast bowler. He was more tuneful than the Barmy Army although they were repeating their chants with huge enthusiasm.

Not that England needed a lot of encouragement. Flintoff soon disposed of Nicky Boje, caught at short leg and then Herschelle Gibbs, caught at gully off Harmison.

In strode Jacques Kallis with a century in this match already and, now that Gibbs had gone, the hope of his side. It was difficult to understand his innings of ten runs spread across only 20 minutes. At this point it was impossible to write South Africa off yet he chose to attack and to hit against the spin of Giles. Just before lunch at 104 for four he was out when Harmison made a ball around off stump swing back. Kallis seemed to expect away swing but the ball ducked back and Geraint Jones dived to take the edged catch.

Uncertainty

There was still uncertainty about the result and a temptation to accept the bookmakers' offer of 33-1 South Africa. Rudolph, who had been solidly accumulating runs since Boje was out, and Martin van Jaarsveld put on 69 and gave the impression there were many more runs to come particularly as Giles bowled loosely possibly because he was still feeling the effects of his back spasm. But at 172 Rudolph nudged the ball to short leg and gave Giles his wicket and in the next 11 runs the weak underbelly of South Africa's batting line-up was cruelly exposed.

Amla added a nought to his first innings one and Van Jaarsveld was caught low at slip immediately Hoggard returned.

Pollock, a better Test batsman than any of the three who went in ahead of him, joined De Villiers an adventurous players and by tea South Africa was 221 with three wickets in hand and 34 overs to score another 157 runs.

Under the laws which change so often that even the umpires seem uncertain this day was to be played to a finish; that is with 92 overs however long they took to bowl.

Rain was promised at 4 o'clock and sure enough at the end of the tea interval — 3 p.m. hereabouts — the wind changed and clouds gathered in the weather quarter.

De Villiers digs in

De Villiers and Pollock dug in which made Trescothick at mid-on ask for help from the Barmy Army. The new ball came with 122 needed in 21 overs and still no sign of surrender from De Villiers or Pollock but more than five and a half runs an over needed.

Hoggard conceded eight in his first over as De Villiers reached fifty. Harmison had the last word. He hit Pollock on both hands with successive balls. Pollock went wandering down the pitch, was sent back by De Villiers and Simon Jones at point threw down the wicket. Ntini hit Harmison for four fours in a row and when the batsmen were offered the light they raced off. The English support booed; England stayed on the field hoping the light would improve: no such luck.

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