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TEST MATCH REPORT by Paul Cox.
SOUTH AFRICA V ENGLAND 2ND TEST - PORT ELIZABETH
The 2nd test match between South Africa and England took place at St.Georges Park Elizabeth. South Africa were on a high after a convincing win in the 1st test at the Wanderers. England, on the otherhand, had something to prove after their dismal showing in that match. The pitch was to have something in it for both batsmen and bowlers and England decided to field after winning the toss, probably because of the outbreak of cloud around the ground. South Africa made one change to the victorious eleven at Centurion Park, with seamer Nanti Hayward replacing Paul Adams. England were forced to replace Mullally with Silverwood due to an injury to Mullally, whilst Tufnell came in at the expense of Hamilton.
England got off to the perfect start. With the score at 3, Gibbs temptingly played at a Gough lifter and proceeded to nick the ball into the waiting hands of wicketkeeper Stewart. But this only brought in Jacques Kallis, and he and Kirsten batted confidently against the new ball attack of Gough and Caddick. Bringing Silverwood and Tufnell into the attack did nothing for their fortunes and Kirsten quickly reached his 50 off just 80 balls, a great rate for a test match and South Africa were 98-1 at lunch. A thick blanket of cloud greeted the players after lunch and it did England a power of good. Gough was reintroduced and brought about the downfall Kallis, caught by Flintoff for 37. Cullinan was soon into his stride and he and Kirsten continue to dominated the England bowling. Cullinan was on 29 and seemingly looking good, before Silverwood found the edge and the catch was taken by Stewart. This brought in Cronje, the South African skipper and he too looked at ease as South Africa reached 191-3 at tea. The sun was out as the final session of the day began and it wasn’t long before the partnership reached 50. Alas, it lasted no longer as Cronje became Gough’s 3 victim, trapped LBW. Rhodes was next in, but he had only faced 4 balls before he was adjudged LBW with Tufnell the bowler and South Africa were starting to look edgy on 206-5. Klusener joined Kirsten, and was able folly for Kirsten, as the opener completed his century, of 216 balls and contained 8 fours. South Africa ended the day on 306-5 and well in control of the test. On day two the players walked out to a gorgeous morning and not a cloud in the sky. Both Kirsten and Klusener carried on the good work in some style. Klusener reached his 50 shortly after play began, and not long afterwards, Kirsten hit Caddick for 3 to arrive at his 150. The partnership was also beginning to look massive and it was taken past 150. It didn’t take much longer for Kirsten to reach his double century and his 200 was completed off 329 balls and included 25 fours. The England bowlers were demoralised and were not looking giving Kirsten any trouble, or Klusener for that matter. Yet out of the blue, Kirsten’s long innings came to an end. He was 224 when Tufnell, returning to the attack, produced a sizzler of a ball and trapped Kirsten LBW. So an amazing innings came to an end and South Africa were 463-6. Klusener, however, was still going and he reached his century shortly after lunch, in the presence of the new batsman Shaun Pollock. It was Klusener’s turn to play the lead role and he continued with Pollock at a blistering pace, as the fifty partnership was quickly recorded. Alas, it didn’t last, as Pollock drove the ball into the hands of Silverwood the bowler. Boucher was next in and he supported Klusener until Tufnell produced the same sort of ball that dismissed Kirsten and Boucher was LBW. The way Klusener was batting, it seemed that South Africa might even surpass the 600 barrier. It was not to be. Klusener was on 140 when Tufnell brought about his downfall, caught by Chris Adams. Nanti Hayward didn’t last long, bowled by Tufnell, who completed a hard earned 5 wicket haul by taking 5-131 and South Africa were all out for 552.
England went in, and Donald and Pollock resumed their demolition of English batting from the 1st test. Butcher was the first to go, caught Klusener bowled Donald for 1. Hussain was next in and began to take command, yet it was at the other end that the cracks formed. Pollock found the edge of Atherton’s bat and the ball found its way to Boucher’s waiting gloves. Vaughan lasted only 2 balls and was caught by Cullinan off Pollock’s bowling. Captain Hussain was next to go, trapped LBW by Donald for 13 and England were 22-4. England survived the rest of the day largely thanks to sturdy batting from Stewart and Adams, along with the rain and both helped them to 54-4 at the close. Stewart and Adams continued their stand and they managed to push it past 50 before Cronje, the South African captain took a superb catch and Stewart was on his way for 37. Flintoff lasted just 7 balls before being caught by Boucher off Donald. Yet England’s demise was delayed slightly by Adams and new batsman Caddick. However, serious thoughts of England survival were quickly dispelled as Pollock bowled an absolute ‘corker’ and Caddick was plumb LBW. England were 145-7 as Gough decided to counter attack the South African cavalry with some ferocious hitting. This, unfortunately for England, brought about his downfall, as Cullinan picked him off for 21. Silverwood was caught by Pollock off Kallis after only 4 balls and Tufnell fared little better, caught Boucher bowled Donald for 1 and England closed on just 163.
England followed on 389 runs behind and it was a sad sight to see England go down the toilet yet again, in their 2nd innings. Pollock caused Atherton a whole pile of problems early on and was surprising to see the former England skipper on his way, caught by Boucher for 0. 4 balls later, his opening partner Butcher joined him in the pavilion as Donald found a way past his defence and Butcher was comprehensively bowled for 4. Vaughan and Hussain began the rehabilitation and seemed on top of Donald and Pollock. However, the introduction of Nanti Hayward put an end to this. Vaughan, facing his first ball from Hayward, proceeded to get a thin edge and present Boucher with yet another catch. After tea, Hussain , along with Stewart, managed to halt the slide, somewhat, but once again, an English batsman fell to a newly introduced bowler. Kallis’s 5 ball saw Boucher in the action again and he held on to his 6th catch of the match and England continued to plummet towards an innings defeat. Adams tried to provide resistance similar to the 1st innings, yet he too became a Boucher victim, this time off the bowling of Kallis. Hussain managed to completed a hard earned half century, though the very next ball broke his stumps and he was bowled by Kallis for 51. The next 3 England batsman fell like ninepins. Caddick LBW Pollock for 1. Gough caught Boucher bowled Pollock for 0 and Silverwood LBW Donald for 5. Tufnell managed to stay in long enough to frustrate South Africa and send the match into a 4th day, yet the 3rd since the resumption was skied by Tufnell and Hayward playing his 1st test match took the catch to complete the job and saw South Africa win by an innings and 229 runs to go 2-0 up in the series. England’s all round performance was abysmal and it will take a very brave man indeed to suggest that England can recover the series.
