Forces of nature were obviously not happy with the way things were panning out on the field. Or simply decided to give South Africa a helping hand? Either way it has meant no play was possible with rain calling for an early lunch and has now effectively put paid to further play today. But there was still one session of action elaborated here for everyone’s benefit.
Hashim Amla is the one South Africa is pinning its hopes to get them past the deficit and on the way to hopefully setting England a challenging target. No mean feat this. But it is a day when South Africa must grind. The question: can they pick themselves up for this dead rubber?
Despite the loss of Graeme Smith last night, the enormity of South Africa’s task was writ large on the skipper’s face as he sat in contemplative mood. The day started with South Africa having to look to put their nose to the grindstone and let the hard work take them to a safe position. Neil McKenzie and Amla did just that and it seemed their efforts were being rewarded in that South Africa did not lose any wickets to the first hour. But thereafter the move to get Stuart Broad into the attack paid off for new skipper Kevin Pietersen. Broad sent McKenzie’s stumps rattling and before one could yell timber, McKenzie was trekking back to the dressing room.
Even as rain started to peter down and Jacques Kallis making his way to the middle (he is really due for one though England will hope that it does not happen in this innings), Amla, batting stoically on seventy-one remains South Africa’s strongest hope at lunch, twelve runs now in the deficit.
