Cricket – England require last-day heroics

On August 19, 2012

England cricket players face a mammoth task on the final day of the third Test against South Africa at Lord’s, needing another 330 to win with just eight second-innings wickets in hand.

England Cricketers require last-day heroics

Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss were both dismissed by Vernon Philander.

The Proteas will take over at the top of the world Test rankings if they secure at least a draw, holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series due to an innings victory at The Oval in the first Test.

South Africa are 4/9 to wrap up victory on day five at Lord’s, with the draw 15/8, while England are 20/1 to complete an unlikely victory and rescue a drawn series.

The tourists had started the day on 145-3 in their second innings and were eventually bowled out for 351 after tea, with Hashim Amla the main contributor with 121, reaching his 16th Test century before being clean bowled by Steven Finn, who was the pick of the England attack with 4-74.

AB de Villiers made 43 before he became one of paceman Finn’s eight wickets in the match, while there were useful runs down the order from both Vernon Philander (35) and JP Duminy (29 not out).

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann all finished with two wickets apiece, as England were set the unenviable task of making 347 to rescue a drawn series.

Their second innings got off to a dreadful start as Philander trapped Alastair Cook leg before wicket for just three, with England 5-1 in pursuit of the tenth highest winning fourth innings total in Test history.

Just one run later, Andrew Strauss padded up to Philander and was struck right in front and had to go with a mere single to his name.

Jonathan Trott (6) and Ian Bell (4) saw England through to 16-2 at the close of play and the Warwickshire pair will both need to make substantial scores if the hosts are to avoid defeat at the Home of Cricket on Monday.

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