England openers fall after bright start

Andrew Strauss
12 April 2012

England lost both openers in the space of six runs to end an encouraging start to their world-record pursuit of 466 to win the third Test against South Africa at Newlands.

Even as travelling supporters were beginning to pinch themselves at the prospect of a famous rearguard - or even last-day run chase - a series-levelling victory for the hosts remained easily the most obvious of four possible outcomes on the fourth evening.

When Andrew Strauss followed his opening partner Alastair Cook (55) back to the pavilion after a 101-run stand, it was long odds-on again that South Africa - who had declared on 447 for seven on the back of captain Graeme Smith's 183 - would prevail, with England wobbling on 112 for two.

England's cage was handily rattled by Tuesday's transitory inference of ball-tampering which can have done little for player relations in this heavyweight tussle. Motivation to prove a point was nevertheless in no doubt as England set out on their mission improbable with the bat.

Strauss himself had the closest calls before tea, two successive lbw hopes for Dale Steyn turned down by Tony Hill and South Africa resisting the DRS temptation.

The England captain responded in Steyn's next over with three consecutive off-side boundaries, only to be struck painfully on the shoulder in the next by a nasty short ball as the fast bowler persisted from round the wicket.

There was a moment of luck for each of England's left-handed openers shortly after tea, Cook's aerial sweep on 27 off Paul Harris landing just over Friedel de Wet's head in the deep but going only for four and Strauss edging Morne Morkel for a boundary at catchable height between second slip and gully to go to 28.

Cook would then have been well out five short of his 50, attempting a faulty single for Strauss to point, but JP Duminy was unable to hit one stump.

He survived to reach his 50 from 105 balls but was first to go, mis-pulling a catch high behind him to Mark Boucher in the first over of a new spell from De Wet.

When Strauss went bat-pad to Harris only three overs later, England were reliant on two new men - South Africa-born pair Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott - to try to revive receding hopes.

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