England v South Africa - Third Test

Old Trafford, Manchester

England: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, PBH May, WR Hammond, GP Thorpe, IT Botham, +APE Knott, FS Trueman, AV Bedser, DL Underwood, JB Statham.
South Africa: BA Richards, TL Goddard, *WJ Cronje, RG Pollock, DJ Cullinan, JN Rhodes, +DT Lindsay, MJ Procter, NBF Mann, AA Donald, NAT Adcock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: Khizer Hayat (PAK) & CJ Egar (AUS)
Toss: England

England's preparations for the third Test were disrupted by the withdrawal of Les Ames with a knee injury, but the wicket-keeping duties would remain in Kentish hands - or gloves - as Alan Knott was recalled to make his first appearance for twenty Tests. The remainder of the cast remained unchanged though, and England picked up from where they left off at Trent Bridge by dismissing South Africa for just 197 on a first day green-top after Len Hutton had won the toss and inserted the tourists.

South Africa's top order again failed to push on having all reached double figures, and on a pitch that was now easing up under some unusually pleasant sunny skies in Manchester, Hobbs and Hutton gave the tourists a lesson in batting with their twelfth century opening partnership for England. It was tough going early on, especially for Hutton who was dropped on 13 by Cronje off the bowling of Adcock, but the partnership had reached 155 before Hobbs was needlessly run out, and at this stage in proceedings England seemed set for a sizeable first innings total.

Hutton eventually reached a patient hundred, but from the relative strength of 257-4, the innings collapsed on a dramatic third morning. Botham and Donald had already exchanged pleasantries the evening before as the former launched a furious attack on the new ball, but Botham fell hooking early on day three and the innings fell away thereafter amidst a torrent of frenzied South African appealing that tested umpires Khizer Hayat and Col Egar to the limit. England were eventually all out for 299 as the last six wickets tumbled for just 42 runs, but the South Africans were in a real lather and a first innings deficit of 102 certainly put them at a distinct disadvantage at the halfway stage.

Richards responded with a quickfire 60 on the third evening, but by close of play the innings had stuttered to 145-4, and on a humid fourth day the malaise of throwing away a decent start continued to afflict the Proteas' batsmen. Statham was bowling beautifully on his home ground, and at 230-8 shortly after lunch, South Africa looked dead and buried. Denis Lindsay was now the Proteas' last hope, and with Donald digging in at the other end, he launched a furious assault on the English attack that would totally change the complexion of the game.

Botham and the hitherto impeccable Statham suffered the greatest punishment as Lindsay and Donald added a national record 85 for the ninth wicket, and Lindsay flayed his way to his second century of the series, eventually finishing undefeated on 125 out of South Africa's final total of 336. It had been an audacious assault, and a lead of 235 meant that the tourists maintained a strong foothold in the game. England have never successfully chased a target exceeding 200 in their ATG history, and when Hobbs departed for just his second duck in 92 innings, brilliantly caught by Procter at first slip in Donald's opening over, their task became that much more difficult.

Hutton endured another uncertain start but he survived, and on the final morning England looked comfortable on 85-2, 150 runs away from victory. Three wickets then fell in the space of three overs though, including Hutton, who received a poor lbw decision from umpire Egar when on 45, and it was suddenly panic stations in the home dressing room. The ball was swinging in the humid conditions, and England's capitulation was as dramatic as it was unexpected. The lower half of the batting card resembled something approaching binary code as numbers 6-11 gathered just four runs between them, and twenty minutes after lunch it was all over; England had been bowled out for 106, their lowest total ever, and South Africa had snatched an astonishing win by 128 runs, a win that puts them 2-1 up in the series ahead of the final Test at The Oval. A number of England's players must now be sweating on their places, both for that game and the upcoming Ashes tour, and South Africa stand on the verge of handing England what would be just the second series defeat in their ATG history.

1st innings scorecards (click to enlarge)

2nd innings scorecards (click to enlarge)

Scores
SAF 1st Inns 197 (Cullinan 45)
ENG 1st Inns 299 (Hutton 102, Hobbs 78; Procter 4-87)
SAF 2nd Inns 336 (Lindsay 125*, Richards 60; Statham 4-82)
ENG 2nd Inns 106 (Hutton 45; Goddard 4-15)

SOUTH AFRICA WON BY 128 RUNS


Man of the Match: DT Lindsay