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Test Match – Third Day

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A new Christie Thriller

South Africa v England

Much of yesterday foresaw a draw looming. The Proteas batted with care, building a useful score, but not fast enough to threaten taking a decent lead. Then the collapse English fans had hoped for took place.

Morning

Heather Knight took a four off de Klerk’s first over to get things moving, but England’s progress was modest. At least the weather was set fair. The doubt remained about the fourth-day: would the game be interrupted a second time?

In the sixth over Beaumont fell lbw yet again. A fine inswinger from Tumi Sekhukhune caught her playing across the front pad. This has remained a worrying fault in her technique. Sekhu’s figures, 5-2-5-1, matched her opponents’ for accuracy. England crawled along until Dercksen took her turn. She had little control, going for ten. That brought the 50 up, but the rate couldn’t reach 2.5 rpo.

Wolvaardt took her time introducing Mlaba; she might be the key to success for the Proteas. In the 33rd she found the edge of NSB’s forward lunge, but Jafta couldn’t hold it. The immediate consequence: three fours for England’s centurion. Cricket can be a cruel mistress.

The 100 arrived in the 35th, still second gear. Memo: add 114 to know the England lead.

At last Mlaba earned her reward, a ball keeping a shade low to beat NSB who played on. In came Danni Wyatt-Hodge, another player desperate to succeed in a rare test match. Fortunately for her, Tryon sent down a loose over that got her moving. At the other end Knight continued in her unflustered way. Her 50 arrived in the 41st, her first of the tour.

Then it was typical DWH. She dispatched Sekhu for two consecutive fours, then hit in the air to short third. 23/23, just like any T20 match. 140-4

Amy Jones took the positive route; by lunch she had added 21 in 21.

Lunch: England 167-4

For most of the morning it felt like slow strangulation. The burning question was: what was a sensible lead before a declaration?

Mlaba was asking other awkward questions. She really needed another quality spinner at the other end. She had her next reward finding the leading edge of Jones’ bat, to be caught off a swirler by Wolvaardt. 182-5

An early ball to Dean didn’t bother to bounce, a worry for Proteas’ batters later.

The world speeded up; Dean didn’t look at home; Mlaba causing problems. Then Dean was gone. Sekhu took a good catch at mid-wicket off a mistimed scoop.

England struggled to 200 in the 62nd; Knight doing the captain’s job (79*)

Only Mlaba kept tight control, Knight and Ecclestone looking for opportunities at the other end. Ecclestone hit a six but became Mlaba’s eighth wicket of the match with a mistimed sweep. (16)

Mlaba triumphed with a 5-fer as she pinned Knight in front. No hundred this time for the skipper. (90/191). The next victim was Macdonald-Gay. That was the first 10-fer for a South African in a test. 26-4-67-6!

England should have declared there and then, but they didn’t. Captains rarely do. So Lauren Bell was allowed the joy of another innings. She compiled three before she gave a catch to
mid-wicket. No declaration needed; England finished on a decent 236. But that 114 lead was the big divide.

The Proteas needed 351, an unlikely story.

The central question was: would the pitch behave itself? Answer, almost certainly not.

This was confirmed by variable bounce early on. Then Bell struck a vital blow. She nipped one back at Wolvaardt, and the finger went up. At least this time there was little cause for complaint. Does CSA have a conscience?

Even worse, Bosch suffered the same fate, this time to Filer. Here there was doubt, but no review to clarify; Bosch was dismayed. That was 12-2 in the sixth, another painful struggle.

Tea

The DRS Affair, the Agatha Christie you haven’t yet read, added another throttling twist. A ball from Bell to Dercksen finished in Beaumont’s chest at bat-pad. A loud appeal. To everyone’s amazement Umpire Klaaste went – metaphorically – upstairs for a second opinion. But there’s no DRS. The missing body. The verdict is OUT. No doubt about the catch, but which Law is in play here?

We need Inspector ICC to solve the matter. If it proves beyond his abilities, Hercule Poirot is the only answer.

Straight after, Kapp launched Filer for two fours, but Bell knocked Luus’ off-stump back (31-4), and I recall pointing out the chance of an innings ending inside one session. De Klerk ran herself out without addition (31-5), then Ecclestone snared Tryon dead in front.

Bell’s fourth wicket, another lbw, meant three ducks in a row; this was not “And Then There Were None” – yet.

There remained a close tussle between two leading characters, Ecclestone and Kapp. But Beaumont proved her outstanding quality close in by snaffling another sharp catch to remove Kapp (21/28) – the only innings of any consequence.

Knight allowed Macdonald-Gay a late bowl, but Mlaba swung a wild bat to hit a four past point, then twice more. The Proteas passed 50 in the process.

Christie’s final twist was one of her best. Mlaba ran a quick single, then, to avoid the throw-in, leapt in the air. Run-out! Who’d have thought of that conclusion?

With Hlubi absent injured, the case was closed. A first test win for England in a decade, but the dice had rolled conclusively against the Proteas from start to finish.

Result

England 395-9 (decl) and 236
Africa 281 and 64
England win by 286 runs
Player of the Match: Lauren Bell

Teams:

South Africa
Laura Wolvaardt (captain), Anneke Bosch, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinal Jafta (w-k), Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkuluieko Mlaba, Ayanda Hlubi

England
Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (w-k), Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Ryana Macdonald-Gay, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell

Afterthoughts

Really too many to summarise in brief. In short, I feel the ICC needs to step in urgently and sort the CSA out. The result leaves cricket-lovers feeling sorry for the Proteas.

At least the game took a lot of pressure off Jon Lewis’ shoulders. The side he picked, not forgetting Kate Cross’ regretted absence, proved spot on.