It was the 1880th cricket match of Test cricket history, the first of the 4-cricket match test series between the hosts England and the visitors South Africa. The match was played on the “Mecca of Cricket”, Lords ground in London from 10-14 July 2008.

The visitors South Africa won the toss and choose to field first.

England made an excellent start with both the inform openers. Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook made a 114 runs opening stand. Cook made 60 while Strauss made 44. After Strauss’ departure England have lost two quick wickets at the score of 117 with Vaughan and Cook both dismissed in quick succession. But then the miseries for South Africans started. Ian Bell joined Kevin Pietersen. They slashed the SA bowlers all over the ground in 286 runs partnership from which Pietersen made 152 from just 181 balls with 20 fours and a six with strike rate of 84.00! They both bated for almost 64 overs.

 

After Pietersen was out England lost three quick wickets. Then Stuart Broad joined Ian Bell who already made his hundred. Both Bell and Broad made 152 runs partnership seventh wicket. Broad made 76. Bell was heading towards a double hundred. But at 199 he was caught and bowled out by Paul Harris and the England have declared their first innings at 593 for 8 in 156.2 overs. There were four South African bowlers who have made centuries, in giving runs off course!

South Africa has started their innings against a huge total. But they made disastrous start at 83 for 4 as no one succeed in scoring against the England bowling attack. A 78 run partnership between Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers has shown some resistance. South Africa needed 393 to avoid follow-on but they have just managed 247 in their first innings. The only batsman succeed to score was Ashwell Prince who made a fighting 101 of 295 balls. Other contributors were Neil McKenzie and AB de Villiers with 40 and 42 respectively. For England Monty Panesar was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 74. South Africa forced to follow-on by England.

South Africa started their second innings with s deficit of 346 runs. And England smelled their first win of the series. But the South Africans had other ideas. Both the openers Greame Smith and Neil McKenzie started the second inning with immense concentration. They put on a 204 runs opening stand destroying England’s hopes for early break through. Smith was first to go. He made 107 of 207 balls. Hashim Amla joined McKenzie. They both put on another hundred run partnership, 125 to be exact for the second wicket. McKenzie was out at 138 when the score was 329. After his dismissal Amla has taken the charge and taken the score to 393 for 3 when umpires though that was enough and the match ended in a draw. Amla made 104 not out.
 
The England bowlers were unable to repeat the performance they had shown in the first innings. The South African batsmen batted extremely well. Probably England could have missed Andrew Flintoff as their bowling attack lacked firepower. Ian Bell of England was declared Man of the Match.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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