Smith leads defence on day four
Date released: 13 July 2008
Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie both score doughty, patient centuries to frustrate England on the fourth day of the Test Match at Lord's.
TICKET NEWS FOR MONDAY
Tickets for tomorrow will be on sale, priced £20 for adults; £10 for over 65s and free for under 16s. Sold (cash only) from the North Gate, in Wellington Place.
You could be here to see England clinch a win!
Latest action
Follow the action, live from Lord's, with our over-by-over text coverage.
SA: 393-3 & 247
England: 593-8 dec
MATCH DRAWN
South Africa won the toss and chose to field.
Batsmen: Neil McKenzie (102) & Hashim Amla (20)
Bowlers: Nursery End: Monty Panesar
Pavilion End: Ryan Sidebottom
Odd numbered overs from the Nursery End, even numbers the Pavilion End
First over of day four was the 5th of SA's 2nd innings
(Press F5 to refresh the page and keep right up-to-date)
Over-by-over
Following the game with Lords.org? Email us your questions, comments & opinions: Live@Lords.org
6:33pm: That's it for today. If you cannot find a legitimate (or otherwise) excuse to skip work and be here tomorrow, be sure to follow it online with us on Lords.org. See you tomorrow!
6:29pm 96th over: Last over and then we'll be back again tomorrow, to see if England can take nine more wickets, or South Africa can bat out the day.
It's a maiden.
6:27pm 95th over: Penultimate over of the day. Another one with just one run from it.
6:23pm 94th over: Just a single from that Sidebottom over.
6:20pm 93rd over: Tight and tidy from Panesar but little threat again.
McKenzie salutes his ton 6:15pm 92nd over: A double change from Vaughan, a rarity in this match. Sidebottom back at the Pavilion End.
6:13pm 91st over: Panesar back on at the Nursery End.
Another four for Amla, driving back down the ground.
6:08pm 90th over: McKenzie moves to 99, with a well timed push through mid on.
He gets his century off the last ball, well batted:
100 for McKenzie
6:02pm 89th over: Nothing from Broad to really trouble the batsmen there - though he is called for his one bouncer of the over.
Last ball of the over, Amla hits it for four in the off side.
5:58pm 88th over: Another one from Anderson that has Amla taking evasive action.
Make that two.
5:53pm 87th over: Quick change again, Broad in for Sidebottom.
Good shot from Amla, digging it out off his toes to drive it back down the ground for four.
5:49pm 86th over: Anderson gets a couple right up under Amla's nose - the batsman swaying back out of the way, just in time.
Last ball and he has Amla defending again, the ball catching the shoulder of his bat and dropping just wide of Bell at short leg.
5:43pm 85th over: Sidebottom ties the batsmen down but no real chances.
5:39pm 84th over: Ones and twos for the batsmen. England will want another wicket quickly before these two settle in again.
Smith waves to the Lord's crowd 5:33pm 83rd over: Sidebottom's getting some swing now too, glowing embers of hope for England.
5:32pm: The crowd are suddenly awake again. For you scrollers, ticket news for Monday is in, above.
5:26pm 82nd over: England's other new-ball bowler, James Anderson, rejoins the bowling, from the Pavilion End. His first ball back is a wide.
Eureka! He got that one on target. Smith can only dink it high in the air and it's Pietersen who takes a very, very grateful catch.
South Africa 204-1 - Smith c. Pietersen b. Anderson - 107
5:20pm 81st over: Vaughan cannot request the new ball quickly enough and gives it straight to Ryan Sidebottom.
The scorer (Malcolm) up here in the Investec Media Centre tells us that's the 10th South Africa opening partnership worth over 200 runs. Graeme Smith's been involved in seven of them.
5:18pm 80th over: A couple more singles:
200 up for South Africa & 200 partnership: Smith & McKenzie
Smith does nick one but once again it's dropping agonisingly out of reach of a fielder.
5:15pm 79th over: They're not switching off, the South African's either, great alertness between the wickets brings them a well-run single.
5:11pm 78th over: The Proteas nudging and brushing their way through more singles.
5:09pm 77th over: A double spin attack now with Panesar at the other end. A new ball will be offered soon, Vaughan must be itching to get his hands on it. England need a lift.
5:06pm 76th over: Pietersen's bowling again. They'll have to hope his desire to get Smith out can help.
5:01pm: That's Smith's 15th Test century, his second at Lord's.
After his first innings failure, that will feel much better for Smith. His face welcomes people to Lord's at the moment, on this billboard near the Grace Gate.
4:59pm 75th over: Smith feels inspired and he skims Panesar away to bring up his century.
100 for Smith
They make not like what it means in the match but the Lord's crowd appreciate good batting when they see it, warm applause for Smith.
Another drinks interval.
South Africa 187-0 at drinks
4:53pm 74th over: Lovely shot from McKenzie, four all the way.
Another good stroke, leg side this time brings him four more.
4:49pm 73rd over: Even McKenzie's getting cramp - stopping mid over to stretch it off. I'm not sure I can feel my feet...
4:44pm 72nd over: McKenzie positioning the sightscreen bang in the middle now - perhaps he feels guilty about making the stewards move it quite so often.
4:40pm 71st over: Trying to find things to entertain you How about this: Stuart Broad has had a change of headwear. He's gone from the wide-brimmed, white floppy hat, to the blue baseball cap.
4:34pm 70th over: Busy times for the Pavilion stewards too, who keep having to move the sight screens for the left and right handers.
4:31pm 69th over: Panesar gets one to surprise McKenzie it pops up off his glove... but the two close in fielders fail to make it in time. Frustration for Panesar.
4:25pm 68th over: Broad will bowl this next over, from the Pavilion End. Cut away, a good stop near the rope from Cook. Two runs.
That one beats a diving Pietersen - four. Smith moves into the 90s.
4:23pm 67th over: Panesar flighting it but not able to find the footmarks or any turn.
4:18pm 66th over: You have to admire this from the South Africans. They run a succession of singles, time and again, making England change the field from left to right hander over and over. Sapping stuff for England.
4:15pm 65th over: Comedic fielding there from Strauss and Pietersen. Strauss chasing the ball, Pietersen coming in from the boundary... they end up leaving it one another and it runs for four.
150 up for South Africa
4:12pm 64th over: More stoic stuff from batsman and bowler. A maiden.
4:09pm 63rd over: McKenzie's run-scoring continues, nicking Panesar and running three. Then Smith's rocking back to steer one through the covers for four.
4:04pm 62nd over: Collingwood continuing from the Pavilion End. McKenzie finally moves of 50, with a four.
Four more for McKenzie but a lucky inside edge that time, he almost played on.
4:01pm 61st over: It's Panesar continuing from the Nursery End. Just one run from the over.
4:00pm: A rather familiar, broad Yorkshire accent is heard echoing around the Investec Media Centre: "You'll never get 'em out!" is the verdict.
3:59pm: Here come the teams again, the players take to the field.
McKenzie: Earned his half century 3:52pm: Here's one of the two thorns in England's side. Neil McKenzie who, like Smith, has batted with exemplary patience.
3:37pm 60th over: No slips but a gully and a silly mid on for Collingwood's over.
A half chance to Cook at mid off but it drops short of him.
Silly point, silly mid on and a mid off fielder now - England trying to apply pressure.
No avail again. That's tea.
South Africa 128-0 at tea
3:34pm 59th over: Smith must be loving this. He waits for one from Panesar to come on to him and nips it past cover for four.
3:31pm 58th over: Paul Collingwood joins the attack from the Pavilion End. Tim Ambrose is stood right up to the stumps. A maiden but they're not much good to England at the moment.
3:28pm 57th over: More grinding stuff in that Panesar over. It's very intelligent Test cricket from the batsmen.
3:23pm 56th over: Even the clapping has died off a bit now. It's gritty stuff from the South Africans, rather than thrilling but you have to hand it to them, they're doing their job very well.
3:19pm 55th over: It's a much changed day, weather-wise from yesterday. Bright, warm, sunny and the flags are hanging limply. Not a breath of wind.
McKenzie shades Panesar down the leg side:
50 for McKenzie
3:15pm 54th over: More 'high jumper claps' for Sidebottom as he runs in.
He's got McKenzie's edge... with first and third slips in place, it goes clean into the gap where second slip would have been. Four.
3:11pm 53rd over: Monty Panesar's back at the Nursery End. He'll certainly get the crowd's support. In true Monty style the crowd are appealing for everything.
A couple of loud but half-hearted and unsuccessful appeals from Monty.
Michael Vaughan tries to inspire his team 3:06pm 52nd over: Ryan Sidebottom returns, bowling from the Pavilion End.
The crowd are doing their best to try and reinvigorate the England team. Sidebottom getting the claps like a high jumper ready to jump. Kevin Pietersen orchestrating things, clapping along.
3:02pm 51st over: Vaughan having a good long chat to Broad before this over. England need a breakthrough.
2:57pm 50th over: As predicted, here comes Panesar. The Pavilion End this time for him. Bowling into the end where Broad and Smith were both doing their chicken scratching.
Panesar's pushing Anderson back at mid on for Smith. Anderson took two great catches off Panesar's bowling yesterday.
2:53pm 49th over: Broad is bowling but it's Monty Panesar doing the warming-up arm waves. Expect him back in the attack soon.
Delicate placement from Smith, down to third man. They run three.
2:50pm 48th over: Smith takes on Sidebottom's arm, stood at mid off. Sidebottom aims... and misses. They run a single.
Coming to you live, from the Investec Media Centre 2:47pm: In case you were wondering where we're reporting from, we're sat in the Investec Media Centre. Doesn't it look regal on a day like today?
2:44pm 47th over: Both teams are scratching around like chickens at the crease now. Broad, marking the last stride of his run-up, the batsmen trying get the dusty stuff away from their wickets, lest Panesar find it.
2:41pm: How about you, wannabe Graeme Smith's? Happy with how things are going so far for South Africa? Dare you even think about an unlikely win, or are you happy to try and bat for the rest of today and Monday?
Send us your thoughts: Live@Lords.org.
2:35pm 46th over: Smith guides that one down to fine leg for four.
100 up for South Africa & 100 partnership: Smith & McKenzie
That's drinks.
South Africa 103-0 - drinks
2:34pm: Over to you budding captains. Imagine you're Michael Vaughan. How are you going to get these batsmen out?
Send us your ideas: Live@Lords.org.
2:31pm 45th over: Broad has Smith driving now, on the up and it pops into the air... just over Alastair Cook at cover and it drops safe.
2:26pm 44th over: A nice drive from McKenzie, through the covers for four. The deficit down to 250 runs.
Anderson finds McKenzie's edge but it goes wide of 'keeper Ambrose and runs for four.
2:22pm 43rd over: A maiden from Broad.
2:17pm 42nd over: Interesting stat on the new digital scoreboards at Lord's - 30 of Smith's 50 came on the leg side.
At last a little encouragement for Anderson, he gets a couple to really jag back at McKenzie, one going just inches over the top of his stumps after McKenzie opts to leave it.
2:16pm: For those you that instantly scroll down the page, there's breaking late gate news, above.
2:11pm 41st over: As Geoff B and I mustered up between us, here comes the bowling change. Stuart Broad on at the Nursery End. Smith on strike, three runs from his 50.
One slip, a gully and two men back on the leg side.
Smith brings up his 50 with a lovely cut shot for four.
50 for Smith
2:08pm 40th over: A long, long chase to deep point for Ryan Sidebottom to stop one from McKenzie. He makes it... but flicks it onto the rope instead of away from it. Four runs.
2:05pm 39th over: Smith strokes another fine four off Panesar. Manoeuvring him into the on side. He moves to 47, nearing a half-century.
2:03pm: Your emails: Geoff B has been in touch, writing to Live@Lords.org, to say:
"England are going to have to be extremely patient on a very flat wicket.
"Good to see the application of the bowlers so far with a couple of half chances and a good LBW shout, lets us hope they wheedle out a couple of wickets this session at least."
Thanks Geoff - one does wonder if Vaughan will tinker with his bowlers again if a wicket doesn't come soon.
1:59pm 38th over: Another maiden over from Anderson - a stoic, steady start after lunch from the batsmen.
1:57pm 37th over: Just one from that Panesar over.
1:52pm 36th over: Michael Vaughan taking a good look at the ball now but tosses it to Anderson to continue the attack.
A maiden from Anderson.
1:49pm 35th over: A quiet over, by Panesar's standards.
1:49pm: A '12th man' for umpire Billy Bowden now, one of the officials bringing him the 'ball hoop' a metal ring which the ball, if it's not mishapen, should be able to pass through. Interesting.
1:44pm 34th over: James Anderson on at the Pavilion End. Smith waits for one he can hit and gives it the treatment - four through the off side.
1:42pm 33rd over: Monty Panesar gets things underway again after lunch, bowling from the Nursery End.
Monty starts with a maiden.
1:40pm: The players are back on the field.
1:38pm: The five minute bell rings and we'll be back in action soon.
1:06pm: Keep sending us your emails: Live@Lords.org.
How can England get these 10 wickets? Can South Africa bat out the day? Who is going to be today's star man? So far we've had Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ashwell Prince and Monty Panesar in the limelight. Who's next?
What do you think? Live@Lords.org.
1:04pm: Mission accomplished for the morning session for South Africa. They've got to lunch without losing a wicket.
The onus is on England to get them out. South Africa still have a hefty deficit to make up. Ten wickets should win England the match - they've yet to get one today though.
1:00pm 32nd over: Pietersen's in action again, bowling this time. On at the Pavilion End.
His first ball beats Smith... and Ambrose and the diving slip fielder - four byes.
A couple of singles added and that's lunch.
South Africa 67-0 - lunch
12:56pm 31st over: Collingwood still eyeing the ball suspiciously but he tosses it to Panesar for this over.
McKenzie gets a good one off his toes. A long chase for Anderson but it beats him to the boundary rope. Four.
McKenzie tries to drive for four more - it's just inches off the ground, Pietersen diving to his right but it's grounded. It would have been a spectacular catch.
12:52pm 30th over: Collingwood has the ball in hand and is halfway towards Daryl Harper, the square leg umpire. England seem unhappy with the ball but Vaughan gives the signal to continue with it, for now. We'll see what happens at the end of this Sidebottom over.
12:49pm 29th over: A single, off the bat at last - Smith taking it.
An uppish one and McKenzie is driving, his first runs for 32 balls. He gets it wide enough of mid on and it goes for four.
12:44pm 28th over: There's the first run for what seems like an age but it's still not off the bat.
50 up for South Africa
With the left-handed Sidebottomcoming in over the wicket at the Pavilion End, Panesar has footmarks and rough to aim at on both sides of the wicket.
A fifth consecutive maiden - just one run off the bat in the last seven overs.
12:41pm 27th over: Fresh gloves for Smith as Panesar bowls to McKenzie. It's another maiden. Four successive maidens now.
Smith: batting patiently 12:36pm 26th over: A maiden from Sidebottom leaves the Proteas still short of their first 50.
12:34pm 25th over: A rarity from Panesar: an over without an appeal. Without runs too, a maiden leaves SA stuck on 49.
12:28pm 24th over: That one from Sidebottom rears up on Smith, he gets something on it, but not his bat and they run two.
12:25pm 23rd over: McKenzie is advancing down the wicket to Panesar and almost gets run out, as Bell stops the ball at silly point and shoves it back towards the stumps.
12:21pm 22nd over: A maiden from Sidebottom, good pressure cricket from England.
12:18pm 21st over: Panesar gets one to spin past Smith. The SA skipper's back leg saves him - that one was destined for middle stump.
A sunny Sunday at Lord's 12:17pm: Here's what you're missing, glorious sunshine and Lord's looking splendid. More of the same forecast for Monday.
Bear in mind, if it goes to a fifth day, all the tickets are up for grabs. Tickets for a fifth day are never sold in advance.
We'd never encourage you to take a sick day off work but... your budgie is looking decidely peaky; and doesn't your boiler need replacing? Then there's always that very ill great, great Aunt - isn't it her funeral tomorrow?
12:12pm 20th over: Sidebottom back, at the Pavilion End this time. A short spell from Broad, apparently necessitated as Sidebottom hadn't been on the field long enough after a break off the field.
12:10pm 19th over: More 'oohs' and 'aahs' in that Panesar over but just from the slips.
12:00pm 18th over: Stuart Broad is back, bang on midday. Bowling from the Pavilion End this time. He got Hashim Amla and Mark Boucher (with a beauty) yesterday.
Good line from Broad. A maiden. That's drinks.
South Africa 42-0 - drinks
11:57am 17th over: Now Monty has a big appeal for LBW against McKenzie. The batsman is grimacing but the umpire's unimpressed.
11:51am 16th over: Good, quick stuff from Anderson again. Smith swings at one and Collingwood, at second slip is appealing, he thinks it got a bottom edge though to wicketkeeper Ambrose. It's a lonely appeal though and nothing comes of it.
11:48am 15th over: Here comes Monty. Panesar on to bowl at the Nursery End.
Silly point, short mid-off and a slip in place. McKenzie on strike. A maiden over.
11:44am 14th over: The batsmen starting to settle in against Anderson now, taking a two and a three.
11:43am: Perhaps it wasn't paper for Pietersen after all but some gauze padding. He's adjusting his shoes and trousers now, maybe he's got up a knock or a niggle.
11:39am 13th over: Pietersen having a good chat to Michael Vaughan, midway through this Broad over. There's clearly a plan afoot.
A little bit of width from Broad and Smith leans onto his back foot and clips it away for four. Good shot.
11:38am: 12th man dashes out, looks like he has a sheet of paper for Kevin Pietersen. Fielding notes perhaps? Maybe Graeme Smith's Telegraph column, for reference...
11:33am 12th over: Still three slips, gully and a point fielder. Only Broad is back near the boundary, down at deep fine leg.
A good drive back down the ground, past Anderson, from Smith. The batsmen run three.
11:28am 11st over: One of Vaughan's quick changes, to try and shake things up. Stuart Broad comes on at the Nursery End.
A good over from Broad. Just one from it.
11:24am 10th over: Just one from that Anderson over, the SA batsmen don't want to take him on.
11:23am: Don't make plans for an early get away today either, we're scheduled for 92 overs, rather than the usual 90 as we've a few to make up from the previous days' rain delays.
11:20am 9th over: The first big roar of the day and it's for Monty Panesar, naturally. The popular spinner darting around to cut that one off from Smith and make it just a two.
11:15am 8th over: Anderson already up at 86mph in that over. It's just Smith getting the 'short leg treatment'. With McKenzie on strike, Bell drops right back to deep square leg.
A maiden over.
11:10am 7th over: Quite attacking field settings early on from Michael Vaughan: three slips, a gully and Ian Bell at short leg. It was Bell that caught Smith out from Anderson's bowling.
A nice leg glance from McKenzie adds one more to the total.
11:06am 6th over: James Anderson to bowl the second over of the day, from the Pavilion End.
Anderson had Smith out for just 8 in the first innings. Clearly the SA skipper remembers that all too well - perhaps a little too eager to get off the strike, he runs a risky single but makes it, just.
11:04am: Here's one to ponder on, as Graeme Smith bats. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but: Was his decision, after winning the toss, to put England in, the worst he has ever made?
What do you think? Email us: Live@Lords.org.
It brings back memories of Nasser Hussein in Brisbane, who put Australia in during the First Ashes Test. The Aussies went on to score 364 runs on the first day and won the match on the fourth. Prescient?
11:01am 5th over: Neil McKenzie on strike for the first ball.
Second ball of the over and McKenzie picks a gap in the off side perfectly, threading it through for four. A good start.
10:59am: Looks like it will be Ryan Sidebottom starting off the England attack, bowling the first over of the day, the fifth of South Africa's second innings. He starts at the Nursery End.
10:58am: Here come the players - England first, forming their customary huddle.
Followed by the South Africa batsmen: Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie.
10:50am: Mass exodus, the field empties very quickly; the crowd around the Nursery Ground are stopped in their tracks as the last South Africa batsmen head through, back to the Pavilion.
We're minutes away from more live cricket folks - hold on to your hats, this should be a great day's cricket.
10:31am: James Anderson is practicing some catching with England coach, Peter Moores. He fielded quite brilliantly yesterday, Anderson, taking two very good catches, one a spectacular one from Panesar's bowling.
What of the Proteas? They're trotting back to the Pavilion in pairs - they've been in the nets on the Nursery Ground practicing their batting. It's a different game for them today: starting 333 runs behind, the first priority it to survive the morning session with wickets in tact.
I heard Geoffrey Boycott sum it up quite well on the radio this morning. He said that even if South Africa bat really well today, they'll still be only on or around England's score.
10:26am: More fielding drills for England on the outfield this morning. They've got little half-moon shaped nets around sets of stumps, practicing their throwing accuracy.
I can tell you that Kevin Pietersen is a bit of a crack-shot with the ball in hand.
With 152 runs and, after yesterday, a wicket to his name he must feel that he can achieve anything!
Remember to keep sending us your emails Live@Lords.org.
As a captain would you give Pietersen the ball? There's patches of rough out there, as Monty Panesar will tell you. It's a dry, sunny day - would you let 'KP' have a bowl?
10:11am: Welcome back to Lord's cricket fans. The weather looks perfect, warm, sunny and bright.
The England team are on the field, in a huddle. If they can bowl and more importantly field as well as they did yesterday they could wrap this up today. With South Africa now batting to survive, it should be a fascinating, tactical day's play.
Stay with us, for live over-by-over updates.
