South Africa grind out five day draw
Date released: 14 July 2008
Day five of the England v South Africa Test Match at Lord's. South Africa bat out the day's play to seal a draw.
Match 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: Hashim Amla (104) & Ashwell Prince (9)
Bowlers: Nursery End: Alastair Cook
Pavilion End: Kevin Pietersen
Odd numbered overs from the Nursery End, even numbers the Pavilion End
First over of day five was the 97th 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
Ian Bell with his man-of-the-match champagne and cheque 5:10pm: Ian Bell is named man-of-the-match. Well deserved given his 199 runs.
Breaking news: Andrew Flintoff is in the England squad for the Headingley Test. The man to miss out, Chris Tremlett. The squad, otherwise, is the same as for this match.
5:07pm: Friend of the website, Geoff B has already been in touch:
"I guess a Test Match that will be soon forgotten despite some very good performances but unfortunately no match winners. Thanks for your excellent commentary.
"By the way will you be doing any commentary during the Headingly Test?"
Thanks Geoff, glad you enjoyed the service. The answer, sadly, is 'no', we won't be commentating on the Headingley Test. We're a 'Lord's only' service - no where's quite the same as 'The Home of Cricket' is it? That said, would you, our readers, want us to comment on the Headingley Test? If there's demand for it, it's certainly something we'd consider.
Send us your comments: Live@Lords.org.
5:05pm: Thanks very much for all your support and emails during this Test. It's a bit of a new venture for the Lords.org website, doing live commentary, so your support is very welcome.
As are your comments. How can we improve this service? Send us your ideas: Live@Lords.org.
4:56pm: Top of the England order on the scoreboards is "Strauss". Now, unless it's the newly born Strauss junior, in for his or her England debut, I doubt that Andrew will make it back in time!
Got the power: Billy Bowden removes the bails 4:54pm: The umpires remove the bails and, despite the digital scoreboard suggesting England are next in to bat, they're not. The match is over, it's a draw.
A shame for England after such a great start b ut you have to give South Africa a great deal of respect for some stoic batting in a tough match situation. No fewer than three centurions in their second innings.
4:50pm: Ten to five and South Africa have declared - purely to get us to a draw though. The declaration means a ten minute break, which brings us inside the last hour, when the match can be called a draw.
MATCH DRAWN
South Africa 393-3 declared
4:48pm 167th over: A first in Test cricket, Alastair Cook to bowl from the Nursery End. You get the impression England are trying to get the 15 overs left point as quickly as they can, so they can call this a draw.
4:45pm 166th over: Kevin Pietersen will bowl the next over, from the Pavilion End.
4:44pm: Players are on the field again. An odd little interlude that.
4:42pm: The sun is out and the crowd are getting restless.
4:37pm: Confusing scenes. The players are heading off the field, presumably offered the light. The umpires are still out there, so you assume that's not it for the day.
4:31pm 165th over: Amla's got his century, with a four.
100 for Amla
More, patient Proteas batting, rewarded with a century. Amla batted for 336 minutes for that ton. That's over five and half hours.
Collingwood is all smiles, a very bizarre half chance there. Amla fenced at one that shied up and it hit him on the arm. It lobbed up and perfectly over Collingwood. Roger Federer would have been proud of that one.
4:28pm 164th over: Amla moves to 97 with a single.
4:26pm: Pads and helmets being brought out for Ian Bell and Alastair Cook now, they'll be in at short leg and silly point soon then.
Collingwood gets a spanner from umpire Harper to tighten his spikes. They're really walking Swiss army knives these umpires.
4:20pm 163rd over: Collingwood will get a go with the new ball. You can't say he hasn't had his chances. Both Sidebottom and Anderson are on the field. An interesting call by Vaughan.
Anderson's chuckling away with Pietersen in the covers.
Amla clips one just wide of gully, which runs for four. I hope Collingwood hasn't bought a lottery ticket, his luck is not in today.
4:15pm 162nd over: Broad gets the first go with the new ball. First runs since tea, Amla plonks it over mid wicket and they run three. He moves into the 90s.
4:11pm 161st over: The immediate answer is 'no'. Vaughan tosses Panesar the old ball. His 60th over of this innings.
Umpire Harper's having a long chat to Panesar - possibly about his appealing? He's been in trouble for being over-zealous before. Monty doesn't look happy but Harper appears to be all smiles. Vaughan comes over for a chat to Panesar - possibly to explain that he's taking the new ball.
Another maiden over.
Very appealing: Panesar makes another unsuccessful appeal 4:09pm 160th over: Collingwood is stretching in the slips again. He's the first choice slip fielder now, with Strauss attending the birth of his second child.
Another maiden from Broad - the new ball is due. Will Vaughan take it?
4:05pm 159th over: Panesar, still with the old ball for now, continues from the Nursery End. He may make Vaughan reconsider taking the new ball right away with that over, some real bat-beating turn there.
4:00pm 158th over: It's worth bearing in mind that we're only three overs from another new ball being available. Michael Vaughan eagerly accepted the offered new ball last time - you'd expect him to do the same again, given Panesar is struggling for wickets.
A maiden over for Broad - but England would swap a hundred maidens for a few more wickets.
3:59pm: Here come the players again, fresh from the tea interval, though I doubt, in these modern times if much tea is drunk. More energy drinks and snacks I should expect.
Stuart Broad is swinging his arms with intent at the Pavilion End, he'll be continuing from there.
3:50pm: More of your emails, sent in to Live@Lords.org.
Rahul S writes to ask: "I was wondering that Strauss has been allowed off the field to attend the birth of a child. Has this happened before?"
Thanks for your question Rahul. It's not as uncommon as you may think. I'm realiably informed by a colleague here in the Investec Media Centre, the last time was at Headingley in 2004. England were playing the West Indies and it was captain, Michael Vaughan having to make his excuses to rush to his wife's bedside.
Keep your questions coming, we'll do our best to answer them all! Live@Lords.org.
3:39pm 157th over: Amla's happy to nick, nudge and nurdle. There's only two results possible now. The draw and an unlikely looking England win. They need seven more wickets. That's tea.
South Africa 372-3 at tea
3:36pm 156th over: A half-hearted Mexican-wave goes around the ground... Broad not getting much joy.
Kallis gets himself in a tangle 3:33pm 155th over: How about this for an action shot? Jacques Kallis, bails in the air.
Panesar bowling, more turn, no wickets.
3:28pm 154th over: Head in hands time for England. Broad gets Prince to edge one, Cook, diving in the slips can't quite reach it. It's grounded.
Cook is the second slip but he's stood out where a third slip would stand really, a large gap between him and the first slip, Collingwood.
3:24pm 153rd over: Prince is off the mark with a single.
3:20pm 152nd over: Broad is the bowling change, on for Sidebottom. England desperate to make this into some wicket-taking momentum.
Two runs for Amla, a punch into the off side.
3:17pm 151st over: Sidebottom trots off the field for a sub - that'll be the end of his spell.
Monty has a loud appeal for LBW against Prince, first ball. Umpire Harper is unmoved. Third ball and it's another appeal - same result though. Last ball and he's at it again... but all he gets from Harper is his hat.
Father time: Strauss asks permission to leave the field as his wife goes into labour 3:13pm 150th over: Sidebottom really has the crowd on-side again now, they're clapping him in to every delivery.
A photo for posterity for the Strauss family - Andrew asking permission to leave, to attend the birth of his second child.
3:10pm 149th over: Panesar back on at the Nursery End. Amla happy to pad him away.
3:05pm 148th over: Sidebottom must have heard you Bryn! An absolutely snorting yorker beats Kallis all ends up. He's out!
South Africa 357-3 - Kallis b. Sidebottom - 13
Good news for England that wicket. The bad news is, next man in is Ashwell Prince, who scored a patient century in the first innings.
3:04pm: You don't seem that exercised about Vaughan's field placings, though Hannah's question has got a few of you interested. Bryn has emailed Live@Lords.org to say:
"Nevermind Vaughan's field placings the team selection has left him short of options. A half fit Sidebottom is no threat at all. Panesar's being bowled into the ground but no sign of Pietersen or even Vaughan himself bowling some part-time spin.
"Roll on Freddie Flintoff being fit again."
What do you think? Email us: Live@Lords.org
2:58pm 147th over: Here comes Collingwood at the Nursery End. Not much danger from him though.
2:54pm 146th over: Collingwood is stretching and flexing in the slips - he must be keen to make his mark on this match somehow.
2:52pm 145th over: This is Panesar's 53rd over now... the most he's ever bowled in a Test. He does look pretty tired and who can blame him? It's been a long two and a bit days in the field for England.
2:48pm 144th over: Hannah F's still waiting for your comments on Vaughan's field settings.
Send us your thoughts: Live@Lords.org.
2:45pm 143rd over: Four leg byes bring up:
350 for South Africa
2:35pm 142nd over: Sidebottom's back (no pun intended). Bowling from the Pavilion End. His back doesn't look too sore as he jumps to field that one off his own bowling.
That's drinks.
South Africa 349-2 at drinks
2:34pm 141st over: Panesar still toiling away but still unable to find enough turn to trouble the batsmen.
2:31pm: A question, sent in by an office-bound Hannah F (thanks for your email Hannah) who wrote to: Live@Lords.org.
"Can we have a comment on Michael Vaughan's field placings yesterday (and today for that matter)?
"They’ve been called 'innovative' by some in the papers, although that is not how they looked from where I was sitting at Lord’s yesterday (despite my admiration of Smith’s and McKenzie’s wonderful defensive batting)."
Well Hannah, I can only offer you my opinion. I thought Vaughan was trying his best to put pressure on two, very settled and very capable batsmen. Smith and McKenzie had no intention of throwing their wickets away, so Vaughan had to keep them on their toes somehow.
That's just my opinion - what do the rest of you think?
Send us your views: Live@Lords.org.
2:28pm 140th over: Decent basics from Panesar, but Kallis already looks worryingly settled.
2:25pm 139th over: Amla into the 70s with a single.
2:22pm 138th over: Word on McKenzie's injury from the South Africa team. McKenzie has a groin strain, on his right side. The SA camp are hopeful he'll be fit for Headingley.
Another good over from Anderson.
2:21pm: That law about agreeing a draw, could well come into play. With just four days until the next Test, at Headingley, both teams may well prefer to save themselves.
2:18pm 137th over: Kallis off the mark with a four. The sub fielder, on for Strauss, doing a passable impression of the Middlesex man, chasing after that one at full tilt - much as Strauss is probably doing en-route to the hospital!
2:16pm 136th over: More zippy stuff from Anderson, he's certainly had his spirits boosted by that wicket.
2:15pm 135th over: For those of you wondering about a draw, I've got the official line from MCC's Laws Department. Law 16 is the relevant one, to which a special playing regulation is made for these npower Test Matches.
In a nutshell, the captains (the batsmen on the field can act for their captain) may decide, if neither team has the prospect of winning, to declare it a draw.
The earliest point they can do this is in the final hour of today's play or when there are 15 or fewer overs remaining.
2:12pm 134th over: A bit of late turn there for Panesar, perhaps lifted by that wicket.
2:11pm: An eventful few minutes there! Strauss off the field, dashing to the local maternity unit; a wicket for England at last, making two South Africans leave the field, McKenzie and his runner, Smith.
2:05pm 134th over: Andrew Strauss leaves the field. Word is, Mrs. Strauss is due to give birth at any moment. Good luck Ruth and Andrew!
A wicket, at last! Anderson gets one to lift on McKenzie who gets the faintest of top edges to wicketkeeper Ambrose.
South Africa 392-2 - McKenzie c. Ambrose b. Anderson - 138
2:01pm 133rd over: Interesting developments here... McKenzie's called for a runner. None other than skipper, Graeme Smith comes out to do the honours.
Another tidy over from Panesar. We're not quite sure what the problem with McKenzie is. Tiredness perhaps? He has been out there for eons. Around ten hours at last count.
Man under pressure? Paul Collingwood 1:54pm 132nd over: That's the end of Collingwood's spell - James Anderson on at the Pavilion End.
1:54pm 131th over: Here comes Panesar's 46th over... another tight one.
1:48pm 130th over: That last over was Panesar's 45th of the match. You get the feeling it could be a long day for Monty.
Just one from that Collingwood over.
1:46pm 129th over: Amla moves into the 60s with a neat late cut shot off Panesar for four.
1:40pm 128th over: Players back on the field and Paul Collingwood gets his chance, resuming from the Pavilion End.
McKenzie lifts Collingwood back down the field for four.
1:12pm: Well, more uninspiring stuff from England. Lots of effort but no reward for the bowlers.
England armchair/office chair captains, how can they get the breakthrough? Send us your emails: Live@Lords.org.
12:57pm 127th over: The answer to the previous question is Andrew Flintoff. Three wickets in the match and an unbeaten 39 as Lancs clinch the match.
How Mr. Collingwood will be praying to take a wicket now. He'll have to wait, it's Panesar bowling now.
That's lunch.
South Africa 312-1 at lunch
12:54pm 126th over: Elsewhere, Lancashire have just clinched a six-wicket victory over Hampshire in the County Championship. Guess who was at the crease, when the winning runs were scored...?
12:51pm 125th over: A few more singles from that Panesar over - he just can't find the turn that bamboozled McKenzie on day two.
12:47pm 124th over: Collingwood joins the attack from the Pavilion End and starts with a good shout for LBW against McKenzie. It pitched in line but looked to be drifting down the leg side, just.
12:45pm 123rd over: Another Panesar over which costs just one run.
12:40pm 122nd over: Amla brings up his fifty with a nifty clip into the on side for four.
50 for Amla
300 up for South Africa
12:39: Still plenty of space here at Lord's. Make it a half day in the office, come and enjoy the sunshine and some Test cricket for only £20! £10 if you're over 65 or completely free if you're under 16.
12:37pm 121st over: A couple of singles again.
12:33pm 120th over: Amla inches closer to his half century.
12:29pm 119th over: A maiden for Panesar. Good restrictive stuff from England but they're still not carrying the threat they need.
12:26pm 118th over: Amla almost caught out by that sharp run from McKenzie, but he's safely in at the strikers end.
12:24pm 117th over: A single from that Panesar over, McKenzie taking it.
12:18pm 116th over: Sidebottom returns, at the Pavilion End.
Sidebottom has McKenzie playing and missing at a tempting one outside off.
12:15pm 115th over: Panesar's making Amla think a bit. The luck's going the batsmen's way though - Amla shades one which runs all the way for four.
Amla: happy to leave balls he doesn't have to play 12:11pm 114th over: Broad has Amla playing and missing. Something at last to inspire the England bowlers.
Amla's unphased, playing the next ball into the off side for four.
12:07pm 113th over: A maiden from Panesar.
Paul Collingwood doing a series of stretches at backward short leg - another bowler itching to get on perhaps.
12:03pm 112th over: Another bowling change by Vaughan as he seeks that elusive wicket. Broad moves to bowl from the Pavilion End this time.
A similar field-setting to the one Anderson had for Amla, Broad not bowling it quite so short though.
11:57am 111th over: Four men around the bat again for this Panesar over.
Pietersen fields the ball and throws it back, bowler-style to Michael Vaughan. A hint perhaps? An unsubtle one but a hint nonetheless.
That's drinks.
South Africa 272-1 at drinks
11:53am 110th over: Anderson still firing it in short at Amla. Bemusement up here among the South African journalists - they think Amla's not that bad against the short ball.
The Protea-press look to have it right, Amla just swaying and playing.
11:50am 109th over: A touch of the soothsaying there from the scoreboard team. As they flash up McKenzie's first innings (out for 40, bowled by Panesar) the popular spinner returns at the Nursery End.
11:45am 108th over: Ones and twos from that over, as the batsmen get the scoreboard ticking again.
11:41am 107th over: The crowd are trying to gee-up the England bowlers but it seems to be affecting McKenzie more - he plays a lovely soft handed shot to dink it past point for four.
11:36am 106th over: Anderson it seems, aiming to bounce Amla out. England obviously think that's his weakness.
The field is set accordingly: a silly point, gully, backward short leg and square leg all in place.
Half-hearted celebrations again for Anderson and Ambrose, thinking they got an edge but Amla is playing and leaving it well.
11:32am 105th over: It was a short spell for Sidebottom. Stuart Broad replaces him at the Nursery End.
Erstwhile friend of Lords.org, Geoff B has sent an email to: Live@Lords.org. Geoff thinks:
"We will need at least two wickets before lunch to be able to apply any real pressure. I hope that you will have nine South African wickets to tell us about."
You and me both Geoff, you and me both.
Send us your comments: Live@Lords.org.
Meanwhile, Broad bowls a maiden.
11:27am 104th over: A good stop from Vaughan at mid off prevents four runs. The captain leading by example. England need to be razor sharp in the field today.
11:23am 103rd over: Just a single from that Sidebottom over.
11:20am 102nd over: Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose is skipping away, appealing. He thinks Amla edged that one into his gloves - he didn't.
Hints of desperation from England, they really want an early wicket.
50 partnership: McKenzie & Amla
11:14am 101st over: Sidebottom has half a shout for LBW against McKenzie but it's a muted appeal and nothing comes of it.
11:11am 100th over: Runs for Amla, four of them off the first ball of the over.
250 up for South Africa
11:10am: Our inbox is empty this morning... send us an email. A question, your comments... or just cheer on your team: Live@Lords.org.
11:06am 99th over: Kidology from England? Sidebottom's into the attack in the third over. A maiden from Sidebottom too - he doesn't look to be suffering from his sore back too badly.
11:02am 98th over: James Anderson from the Pavilion End. Anderson tends to bowl well at Lord's - he's on the Honours Board twice, with two five-wicket hauls. I think he'd swap one of them for another five-for today. England need it badly.
A maiden to start the day for Anderson.
11:00am 97th over: Four men around the bat: 'keeper, slip, short leg and silly point.
McKenzie starting well too, lifting Panesar through the off side for a gentle four.
10:59am: It'll be McKenzie on strike for the first ball of the day and it looks like England are going straight to spin, Monty Panesar at the Nursery End.
10:57am: Umpires are on the field (Daryl Harper and famous, arthritic crooked finger of Billy Bowden.)
And here come the players too, England first, led out by Michael Vaughan - into their familiar, motivational huddle.
Followed by the batsmen, Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla.
Five minutes on day five: Tony Lewis rings the bell 10:55am: Five minute bell is rung today by the Chair of the MCC World Cricket Committee, Tony Lewis. He's a famous former England cricketer too of course but can be seen more regularly now tackling the issues in world cricket with MCC.
10:50am: Ten minutes to go... and the greatest forecast for good weather can be seen leaving the outfield. Head Groundsman, Mick Hunt, is wearing his shorts. Mick could give any of the Met Office folk a run for their money. If he's wearing shorts, it'll be a warm and sunny day.
10:47am: You have to say, the new England training kit does look very smart. Brilliant whites, deep blues and vivid reds. It all looks very professional.
Take a look at the full range: Lord's Shop online.
Coming to you live from the Investec Media Centre 10:42am: If there's a typo in this paragraph it's because former South Africa opener Barry Richards has just squeezed past my chair, here in the Investec Media Centre.
The field has emptied again as the players go through their last minute prepartions.
The seats around Lord's are filling up nicely but there's still plenty of room. Found yourself at a loose end? Your morning meeting cancelled? Is the cat sick/the boiler broken/the car out of petrol? Get yourself down here - £20 for a day's Test cricket is not an offer you'll see often. £10 if you're over 65 or free if you're under 16!
10:37am: Lots of admiration from the cricketing purists for Smith and McKenzie's batting yesterday.
Atherton-esque, even Boycott-esque it may have been; "grinding" and "patient" are other words used. Whatever words you prefer, it was excellent Test cricket under a lot of pressure.
Send us your thoughts on the match. Drop us a note: Live@Lords.org.
10:33am: Tracksuit top back on for Sidebottom, presumably to keep the muscles in his back warm and sheltered from the gently breeze at Lord's this morning.
The weather though, is glorious. Perfect sunshine again, just a scattering of plump, white clouds. England will be hoping the pitch can deteriorate a little and provide Monty Panesar with some dusty rough to aim at.
10:29am: England bowlers going through bowling warm-ups now, Sidebottom having a long chat with Otis Gibson.
The rest of the England team are doing fielding drills. Sir Ian Botham, on the pitch with Sky, has to field a wild throw from Alastair Cook. He's still got it...
10:19am: Touch rugby again this morning for the England team. Sidebottom playing a full, if not terribly effective, part.
The South Africans? Out on the Nursery Ground, in the nets, doing batting practice.
They're helped out by the MCC Young Cricketers. A rare chance for the young cricketers to bowl at world-class batsmen.
10:05am: For those not au-fait with the laws of cricket, if Sidebottom is injured England will be without his services as a bowler. Unlike football, you cannot use substitutes in cricket.
Well, you can, but a sub is not allowed to bowl - otherwise teams would constantly be subbing top-line bowlers on and off the field.
If Sidebottom's not up to bowling, England's attack will be: James Anderson; Stuart Broad and Monty Panesar - with back-up bowlers Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen having to shoulder more of the bowling responsibilities.
How do you think it will go today? Send us your emails: Live@Lords.org.
Following the match from your office today? Perhaps you're an exiled cricket fan overseas? Whoever and wherever you are, we'd love to hear from you.
10:02am: We'll be on 'Sidebottom watch' for you this morning. The papers this morning are filled with quotes from England bowling coach, Otis Gibson, who said Sidebottom bowled yesterday despite a sore back.
News this morning is, Sidebottom is on the field with the England team, who are doing their pre-match warm-ups.
He's one of only two players wearing his tracksuit top still, if that signifies anything? The other? Michael Vaughan.
9:52am: Once more around cricket fans. The England v South Africa Test goes into a fifth day.
South Africa, following on, are still 104 runs behind.
Can England, even with Ryan Sidebottom's sore back, take nine South Africa wickets today? Or can the Proteas, inspired by their captain, Graeme Smith, and Neil McKenzie's patient batting, bat out the day and steal a draw?
You can follow it live, here, over-by-over. Stay with us!
