England edging it

Sunday 19 August 2012

The Lord's Test, and with it the series and the world No 1 ranking, remained thrillingly balanced last night as the late dismissal of Jacques Kallis swung a tight contest back towards England.

Jonathan Bairstow is applauded off the pitch after his 95 Photograph: Getty

Custom byline text:

Huw Richards

For the second time in the match Kallis stomped from the crease clearly unhappy with decisions by both the third and field umpires. He evidently believed he had hit the ball from which Steve Finn was adjudged to have dismissed him lbw for 31. Neither umpire Simon Taufel, nor the Hotspot replay on which third umpire Rod Tucker based his review agreed and Kallis, after a lengthy pause, had to go.

He departed 15 minutes from the close of a third consecutive superbly contested day. South Africa begin today on 145 for 3, 139 ahead, with Hashim Amla on 57 not out and nightwatchman Dale Steyn yet to score.South Africa need only to draw the match to clinch both the series and the world No 1 ranking held by England since the clean sweep of India last year, but must also overcome memories of a series of final Test defeats by England.England spinner Graeme Swann batted with common sense to score 37 not out and take England to a narrow but psychologically valuable first-innings lead, then bowled a 20 over spell from the Nursery End that threatened to turn that tiny advantage into a match-winning position.His first 21 balls after tea went scoreless. Number 22 was thumped for four by Graeme Smith, but the next had South Africa's formidable skipper so comprehensively lbw for 23 that the Proteas chose not to seek a review. When Stuart Broad had Alviro Petersen lbw for 24, the tourists led by only 44 and Swann continued to both restrict and threaten. It took all of Amla's footwork and technique to hold him at bay and restore their equilibrium.The one great pity of the day was that England's Jonathan Bairstow, 72 not out overnight, was unable to complete his first Test century. The 22-year-old continued with the control and composure displayed on Friday until a combination of his own nerves and excellent South Africa bowling becalmed him on 95. Scoreless for 14 deliveries from the combative Morne Morkel, he attempted to angle the 15th through mid-wicket, missed and was bowled. The groan that echoed across Lord's testified to the disappointment of a capacity crowd willing him to succeed not only for England's sake, but in fond memory of his father David, a former England wicket-keeper who committed suicide when Jonathan was eight.But the short-term disappointment should be outweighed by the longer term significance of the emergence of a young batsman of such evident quality. The calm with which he faced a South African pace attack well aware of the trials to which Kemar Roach had subjected him earlier this summer showed an ability to learn lacking in immediate predecessor Kevin Pietersen, who may have authentic genius with the bat but also appears to immature with age.Together with James Taylor's equally mature display on at Headingley, Bairstow's innings presaged a period of healthy competition for England batting places.

Contextual targeting label:

Block list

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

England edging it

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED