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*Daily Blast TV* England in South Africa!

Mr Mxyzptlk

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Allround England Beats Sinking South Africa
1st Test

A fine allround effort by England accounted for South Africa by 134 runs in the first Test of a 5-match series. Losing the toss, the visitors were asked to bat first and struggled in the early session, losing 3 wickets and seeing Thorpe (24) dropped off Pollock when on 10. Resuming from lunch at 62/3, regular wickets continued to fall as only a patient Mark Butcher (99 not out) stood his ground.

The Surrey lefthander was dropped off consecutive Steyn deliveries (by Gibbs, the Hall) on 42, then later off the same bowler (by Pollock) on 98, but he fought on in the difficult conditions and ultimately anchored the eventual total of 239 all out. Only Geraint Jones (39) provided reasonable support after the dismissal of Thorpe, trapped in front by a Hall (3/54) slower delivery. Pollock (4/43) led the South African charge.

England lost the final wicket early on day two, as showers shortened play possible on the first day.

Code:
                             England 1st Innings

M.E. Trescothick                            b Pollock             17   33  3 0
A.J. Strauss                                b Pollock              7   18  1 0
M.A. Butcher                         not out                      99  260 11 0
M.P. Vaughan           ct Pollock           b Steyn                1    5  0 0
G.P. Thorpe                       lbw       b Hall                24   51  0 0
A. Flintoff                            ct & b Hall                10   14  1 0
G.O. Jones                                  b Hall                39   95  3 0
A.F. Giles             ct Rudolph           b Ntini                4   18  0 0
S.P. Jones             ct Gibbs             b Ntini                0    1  0 0
M.J. Hoggard                      lbw       b Pollock             13   36  2 0
S.J. Harmison                     lbw       b Pollock              0    1  0 0
Extras          (byes 1   leg byes 9   no balls 10   wides 5)     25
Total                       (10 Wkts  87.0 Overs)                239
Fall of Wkts    19   28   30   78   93   186  205  205  239  239

Ntini                   20     3   54   2    5  3
Pollock                 22     7   43   4    3  1
Steyn                   14     2   40   1    1  1
Hall                    16     2   54   3    0  0
Kallis                  15     2   38   0    1  0
Coming off a spirited bowling effort, South Africa prepared to face the music of a British tune. A spiteful Harmison delivery was gloved by Smith, but Geraint Jones failed to hang on and instead a boundary resulted. The chance would prove costly as Smith added a further 67 runs to his tally and scored a pleasant 72 off 128 balls (though dropped twice more - Flintoff then Thorpe). The two Jacques - Rudolph (57) and Kallis (49) - made solid contributions, but Flintoff set about the middle and lower order with sharp and aggressive bowling to limit the hosts to 259 all out. "Freddie" claimed a fine 5/35.

Code:
                          South Africa 1st Innings

G.C. Smith                             ct & b Giles               72  128  6 0
H.H. Gibbs             ct Trescothick       b Harmison            17   25  3 0
J.A. Rudolph                      lbw       b Giles               57  187  4 0
J.H. Kallis                          not out                      49  181  4 0
H.H. Dippenaar         ct Butcher           b Hoggard             21   44  0 0
A.B. de Villiers       ct Jones G.O.        b Flintoff            20   39  1 0
A.J. Hall              ct Butcher           b Flintoff             0    2  0 0
S.M. Pollock           ct Vaughan           b Jones S.P.           1    2  0 0
N. Boje                ct Thorpe            b Flintoff             1   17  0 0
M. Ntini                          lbw       b Flintoff             0    2  0 0
D.W. Steyn             ct Jones G.O.        b Flintoff             0    1  0 0
Extras          (byes 3   leg byes 11   no balls 5   wides 2)     21
Total                       (10 Wkts  103.5 Overs)               259
Fall of Wkts    27   146  167  215  252  252  253  259  259  259

Harmison                17     4   64   1    1  0
Hoggard                 25     4   65   1    0  0
Flintoff                21.5   5   35   5    1  1
Jones S.P.              16     2   43   1    3  1
Giles                   24    10   38   2    0  0
Facing a deficit of 20 runs on a still lively pitch, England set about to put in a more concerted effort. This time Trescothick (37) and Strauss (64) bettered their first innings stand of 19 to 67 and solid partnerships proved the theme from there on to the eventual total of 362. Butcher (47), Thorpe (39) and Flintoff (49) made good middle order contributions, but it was Ashley Giles' unbeaten 57 that made the biggest difference. Young prospect Dale Steyn took 5/80 for South Africa.

Code:
                             England 2nd Innings

M.E. Trescothick       ct Smith             b Steyn               37   78  5 0
A.J. Strauss           ct Dippenaar         b Hall                64  159  6 0
M.A. Butcher                                b Hall                47   90  7 0
M.P. Vaughan           ct Gibbs             b Pollock             16   58  1 0
G.P. Thorpe            ct Rudolph           b Pollock             39   73  5 0
A. Flintoff                            ct & b Steyn               49  102  6 0
G.O. Jones             ct de Villiers       b Steyn                7   23  0 0
A.F. Giles                           not out                      57  105  7 0
S.P. Jones             ct Ntini             b Steyn                2    8  0 0
M.J. Hoggard                           ct & b Pollock              3   13  0 0
S.J. Harmison                               b Steyn                6    6  1 0
Extras          (byes 5   leg byes 16   no balls 13   wides 1)    35
Total                       (10 Wkts  117.0 Overs)               362
Fall of Wkts    67   158  166  202  230  253  337  343  349  362

Ntini                   24     1   74   0    8  0
Pollock                 34    10   80   3    2  1
Steyn                   21     2   80   5    0  0
Hall                    22     3   70   2    3  0
Kallis                  16     4   37   0    0  0
With 31 overs scheduled remaining in the final session on day four, South Africa started their chase of 343 runs to win. Graeme Smith was positive immediately, and he slashed the second delivery from Harmison for 4. He would add just 6 more though, playing across the line to a full delivery from the same bowler and adjudged LBW. A couple of delays for bad light eeked 10 overs from South Africa's task as the English bowlers continued to pound away. Rudolph was dropped on 8 by Geraint Jones, off Flintoff, and he accompanied Gibbs to stumps - 73/1.

Well-poised to at least play a competitive last day, South Africa faced an early setback as Gibbs dragged Harmison back onto his stumps for 36. The score 76/2 quickly became 80/3 and Rudolph was LBW to Hoggard for 27. Dippenaar was caught at gully two balls after without scoring and suddenly every started to come undone - 80/4. Hoggard dropped a skied hook of AB de Villiers and then Kallis was missed down the legside off Hoggard.

Just 5 balls after, Kallis was caught at third slip for 16. From then in, Hall (27) and Pollock (18) displayed some fight, but South Africa was well on her way to defeat. Still, young de Villiers stood up and played a courageous hand of 58 off 85 balls, before he was sixth out, caught at cover off Giles. At the end Flintoff and Hoggard ensured a slump from 206/6 to 208 all out, and Boje, Ntini and Steyn all registered ducks.

Code:
                          South Africa 2nd Innings

G.C. Smith                        lbw       b Harmison            10   17  1 0
H.H. Gibbs                                  b Harmison            36   73  3 0
J.A. Rudolph                      lbw       b Hoggard             27   63  4 0
J.H. Kallis            ct Strauss           b Hoggard             16   39  2 0
H.H. Dippenaar         ct Giles             b Hoggard              0    2  0 0
A.B. de Villiers       ct Thorpe            b Giles               58   84 10 0
A.J. Hall              ct Jones G.O.        b Flintoff            27   68  2 0
S.M. Pollock                         not out                      18   32  2 0
N. Boje                                     b Flintoff             0    2  0 0
M. Ntini                               ct & b Hoggard              0    6  0 0
D.W. Steyn             ct Jones G.O.        b Hoggard              0    3  0 0
Extras           (byes 4   leg byes 7   no balls 4   wides 1)     16
Total                       (10 Wkts  64.1 Overs)                208
Fall of Wkts    23   76   80   86   112  171  206  206  207  208

Harmison                16     1   66   2    2  0
Hoggard                 23.1   4   56   5    0  1
Flintoff                 7     1   17   2    1  0
Jones S.P.               4     0   15   0    1  0
Giles                   14     4   43   1    0  0
The Man of the Match award was granted to Andy Flintoff for his commendable allround effort.

1st Test played at Johannesburg.
England 1st Innings 239 all out
Butcher 99*, Jones G.O. 39, Pollock 4-43, Hall 3-54
South Africa 1st Innings 259 all out
Smith 72, Rudolph 57, Flintoff 5-35, Giles 2-38
England 2nd Innings 362 all out
Strauss 64, Giles 57*, Steyn 5-80, Pollock 3-80
South Africa 2nd Innings 208 all out
de Villiers 58, Gibbs 36, Hoggard 5-56, Flintoff 2-17
England won by 134 runs.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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South Africa Charges Back
2nd Test

Despite a brave second innings chase by England, South Africa sealed a comfortable win in the second Test of the 5-game series. Electing to bat first, Graeme Smith (86) led his team's charge, getting class support from AB DeVilliers (78). South Africa ultimately scored 334 in the inning, depite a 15-ball duck by Jacques Kallis.

Steve Harmison found his first real rhythm of the series and took 4/96 from his 29 overs. He was well-supported by the consistent swing of Hoggard 3/96 and Simon Jones 2/56.

Code:
                           South Africa 1st Innings

G.C. Smith             ct Thorpe            b Jones S.P.          86  164  7 0
H.H. Gibbs                                  b Jones S.P.          25   82  2 0
J.A. Rudolph           ct Butcher           b Hoggard             31   84  5 0
J.H. Kallis            ct Thorpe            b Hoggard              0   15  0 0
H.H. Dippenaar                              b Harmison            39  111  5 0
A.B. de Villiers       ct Jones G.O.        b Harmison            78  100 11 0
A.J. Hall                            not out                      34   62  3 0
S.M. Pollock           ct Jones G.O.        b Harmison             0    1  0 0
N. Boje                ct Jones G.O.        b Hoggard             13   29  2 0
M. Ntini                                    b Harmison             0    3  0 0
D.W. Steyn                        lbw       b Flintoff             4   16  0 0
Extras          (byes 4   leg byes 10   no balls 6   wides 4)     24
Total                       (10 Wkts  110.1 Overs)               334
Fall of Wkts    61   127  137  173  253  300  300  320  322  334

Harmison                29     2   96   4    2  2
Hoggard                 28     2   96   3    2  0
Jones S.P.              19     0   56   2    0  1
Flintoff                16.1   3   35   1    2  0
Giles                   18     2   37   0    0  1
Having looked somewhat uncertain in the first Test, the Englishmen carried on the same. All the batsmen, bar Trescothick (6) and Thorpe (6), got starts, but it was only Andrew Flintoff (71 not out off 86 balls) who managed to carry on. Ntini (5/48) and Pollock (4/50) starred and England perished for 193.

Code:
                             England 1st Innings

M.E. Trescothick                            b Ntini                6   22  1 0
A.J. Strauss                           ct & b Hall                32   83  2 0
M.A. Butcher           ct Smith             b Pollock             21   34  3 0
M.P. Vaughan                                b Ntini               11   52  0 0
G.P. Thorpe                                 b Ntini                6   14  0 0
A. Flintoff                          not out                      71   86  9 0
G.O. Jones                        lbw       b Pollock             22   51  4 0
A.F. Giles             ct Dippenaar         b Pollock              2   10  0 0
S.P. Jones                                  b Pollock              0    1  0 0
M.J. Hoggard           ct Smith             b Ntini                0    6  0 0
S.J. Harmison                               b Ntini                0   10  0 0
Extras          (byes 0   leg byes 12   no balls 10   wides 0)    22
Total                       (10 Wkts  59.5 Overs)                193
Fall of Wkts    16   44   83   85   99   141  166  166  185  193

Ntini                   16.5   3   48   5    4  0
Pollock                 20     5   50   4    3  0
Steyn                   11     3   31   0    1  0
Hall                    12     1   52   1    2  0
With 5 overs remaining on the second day, England took to the field once more. Harmison floored a return catch off Gibbs (on 0) and South Africa reached stumps at 21/0.

On the third day, Smith made his intentions abundantly clear and he smacked 5 fours in a knock of 45 off 57 balls. Looking to cut Flintoff away, he found Trescothick at point and the breakthrough came - 64/1. His partner out, Gibbs (49) started to take on a more aggressive role until he skied Giles to Harmison soon after lunch.

The South African middle order contributed solidly but it took an unbeaten half-century from Dippenaar to lift the score to its ultimate 259 all out. Harmison (3/53) and Giles (3/45) were the main bowling contributors. England dropped a total of 9 catches in South Africa's second innings, with 5 off Hoggard's bowling.

Code:
                           South Africa 2nd Innings

G.C. Smith             ct Trescothick       b Flintoff            45   57  5 0
H.H. Gibbs             ct Harmison          b Giles               49  118  3 0
J.A. Rudolph                      lbw       b Harmison            32   54  4 0
J.H. Kallis            ct Butcher           b Giles               26   79  2 0
H.H. Dippenaar                       not out                      50  154  2 0
A.B. de Villiers                       ct & b Flintoff            12   27  1 0
A.J. Hall              ct Flintoff          b Giles                5    9  1 0
S.M. Pollock           ct Trescothick       b Harmison            16   51  1 0
N. Boje                ct Thorpe            b Harmison             1   10  0 0
M. Ntini               ct Butcher           b Jones S.P.          10   33  1 0
D.W. Steyn                                  b Jones S.P.           0    3  0 0
Extras           (byes 1   leg byes 4   no balls 7   wides 1)     13
Total                       (10 Wkts  98.0 Overs)                259
Fall of Wkts    64   118  134  174  204  209  241  243  259  259

Harmison                20     4   53   3    3  0
Hoggard                 19     5   55   0    1  0
Flintoff                20     3   60   2    3  1
Jones S.P.              14     1   41   2    0  0
Giles                   25     7   45   3    0  0
England set out to chase 401 for victory, having 175 overs to do so. Progress was steady and Strauss and Trescothick took the score to 59/0 at lunch. After lunch, a fierce Trescothick cut shot was brilliantly held by Gibbs - 77/1. Strauss got his half-century, but edged Pollock to slip immediately after.

Steyn then found Butcher (13) gloving a short ball behind and then Thorpe (3) top-edged a hook shot to Ntini in the deep. At tea it was 131/4 and the end seemed near for England. Still, the determined Vaughan was there, joined by superstar Flintoff.

The England captain was dropped at slip off Pollock on 44, and reached 50 4 balls later. He and Flintoff added 155 runs and for a while it looked England may be in with a shot at victory. Alas, just before stumps on the fourth day the dream was over -

Vaughan b Steyn 77
Balls 185 4's 7 6's 0

- 282/5 at the close.

Geraint Jones never looked settled and Ntini got him in front for 4. Flintoff realized his job and took it upon himself to launch into the bowling. His century took 130 balls with 12 fours. The impossible was not out of the picture yet, but Pollock changed that in the space of 3 balls. Giles (6) and Jones (0) departed and then the key - Flintoff was caught behind for 104.

Harmison was dropped behind the stumps but hooked to Ntini a ball later.

Code:
England 2nd Innings

M.E. Trescothick       ct Gibbs             b Ntini               30   69  4 0
A.J. Strauss           ct Kallis            b Pollock             50  104  8 0
M.A. Butcher           ct de Villiers       b Steyn               13   29  1 0
M.P. Vaughan                                b Steyn               77  185  7 0
G.P. Thorpe            ct Ntini             b Steyn                3   14  0 0
A. Flintoff            ct de Villiers       b Hall               104  148 12 0
G.O. Jones                        lbw       b Ntini                4   29  0 0
A.F. Giles                                  b Pollock              6   12  1 0
S.P. Jones             ct de Villiers       b Pollock              0    2  0 0
M.J. Hoggard                         not out                       4   12  1 0
S.J. Harmison          ct Ntini             b Pollock              5    6  1 0
Extras          (byes 1   leg byes 15   no balls 8   wides 1)     25
Total                       (10 Wkts  100.2 Overs)               321
Fall of Wkts    77   87   121  129  274  291  308  308  315  321

Ntini                   26     0   98   2    3  0
Pollock                 36.2  13   54   4    1  1
Steyn                   21     1   79   3    1  0
Hall                    17     2   74   1    3  0
Andrew Flintoff won the Man of the Match award for the second consecutive Test.

2nd Test played at Centurion.
South Africa 1st Innings 334 all out
Smith 86, de Villiers 78, Harmison 4-96, Hoggard 3-96
England 1st Innings 193 all out
Flintoff 71*, Strauss 32, Ntini 5-48, Pollock 4-50
South Africa 2nd Innings 259 all out
Dippenaar 50*, Gibbs 49, Giles 3-45, Harmison 3-53
England 2nd Innings 321 all out
Flintoff 104, Vaughan 77, Pollock 4-54, Steyn 3-79
South Africa won by 79 runs.
 

Mr Mxyzptlk

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Dominant England Crushes South Africa
3rd Test

England shook off their 2nd Test loss to South Africa and charged back in dominant fashion on a flat Cape Town wicket. Led by the charge of Steve Harmison's 11 wickets, the victory read a comprehensive 249-run margin.

England won the toss and elected to bat first...

Close of play scores:

Day 1: England 278/7 (AF Giles 56*, MJ Hoggard 3*)
Day 2: England 330 all out, South Africa 161/6 (JH Kallis 52*, SM Pollock 15*)
Day 3: South Africa 206 all out, England 214/2 (AJ Strauss 92*, MP Vaughan 43*)
Day 4: England 335/4 dec., South Africa 151/4 (JA Rudolph 52*, AB de Villiers 26*)
Day 5: South Africa 210 all out

Code:
                           South Africa vs England

                             3rd Test at Cape Town


                             England 1st Innings

M.E. Trescothick       ct de Villiers       b Pollock             10   13  1 0
A.J. Strauss                      lbw       b Pollock             27   45  4 0
R.W.T. Key             ct Kallis            b Ntini                1    6  0 0
M.P. Vaughan                           ct & b Steyn              108  206 15 0
G.P. Thorpe            ct Steyn             b Ntini               21   48  3 0
A. Flintoff                       lbw       b Ntini                9   16  2 0
G.O. Jones             ct de Villiers       b Pollock             24   27  5 0
A.F. Giles             ct Rudolph           b Pollock             67  208  6 0
M.J. Hoggard                                b Steyn               16   96  2 0
S.P. Jones             ct Dippenaar         b Pollock              5   18  0 0
S.J. Harmison                        not out                       6    5  1 0
Extras          (byes 4   leg byes 17   no balls 14   wides 1)    36
Total                       (10 Wkts  112.2 Overs)               330
Fall of Wkts    21   26   53   100  122  159  252  312  324  330

Ntini                   26     4   91   3    7  1
Pollock                 39.2  14   76   5    6  0
Steyn                   21     3   63   2    1  0
Boje                    26     6   79   0    0  0


                           South Africa 1st Innings

G.C. Smith             ct Hoggard           b Harmison             7   38  1 0
H.H. Gibbs                        lbw       b Harmison            60  141  6 0
J.A. Rudolph                      lbw       b Harmison             1   12  0 0
J.H. Kallis            ct Harmison          b Flintoff            56  155  6 0
H.H. Dippenaar                              b Harmison             2   18  0 0
A.B. de Villiers       ct Hoggard           b Harmison             2    3  0 0
M.V. Boucher           ct Harmison          b Giles                0    1  0 0
S.M. Pollock                         not out                      35   93  2 0
N. Boje                         run out                            5    9  0 0
M. Ntini               ct Jones G.O.        b Jones S.P.          10    8  1 0
D.W. Steyn             ct Key               b Flintoff             2    6  0 0
Extras          (byes 0   leg byes 15   no balls 8   wides 3)     26
Total                       (10 Wkts  79.2 Overs)                206
Fall of Wkts    28   31   113  121  131  134  168  184  199  206

Harmison                18     4   41   5    0  0
Hoggard                 12     2   28   0    4  0
Flintoff                15.2   5   35   2    3  1
Jones S.P.              15     0   55   1    1  2
Giles                   19     4   32   1    0  0


                             England 2nd Innings

M.E. Trescothick                run out                           41   67  7 0
A.J. Strauss           ct de Villiers       b Boje               147  303 20 1
R.W.T. Key                                  b Boje                 7   24  1 0
M.P. Vaughan                                b Pollock             67  162  7 0
A. Flintoff                          not out                      37   49  5 0
G.P. Thorpe
G.O. Jones
A.F. Giles
S.P. Jones
M.J. Hoggard
S.J. Harmison
Extras          (byes 4   leg byes 23   no balls 6   wides 3)     36
Total                    (4 Wkts Declared 99.5 Overs)            335
Fall of Wkts    101  112  263  335

Ntini                   23     3   80   0    2  0
Pollock                 33    10   85   1    3  1
Steyn                   15     1   65   0    1  1
Boje                    28.5   5   78   2    0  1


                           South Africa 2nd Innings

G.C. Smith             ct Jones S.P.        b Harmison             9   10  1 0
H.H. Gibbs             ct Trescothick       b Flintoff            46   51  7 0
J.A. Rudolph           ct Jones S.P.        b Harmison            48  192  2 0
J.H. Kallis                       lbw       b Flintoff             0    5  0 0
H.H. Dippenaar         ct Key               b Harmison             7   55  0 0
A.B. de Villiers                            b Jones S.P.          70  119  9 0
M.V. Boucher                                b Flintoff             3   14  0 0
S.M. Pollock                                b Harmison             2    9  0 0
N. Boje                ct Trescothick       b Harmison             0    8  0 0
M. Ntini                                    b Harmison             0    2  0 0
D.W. Steyn                           not out                       0    1  0 0
Extras          (byes 3   leg byes 11   no balls 6   wides 5)     25
Total                       (10 Wkts  76.4 Overs)                210
Fall of Wkts    19   73   78   113  174  193  196  200  200  210

Harmison                27     9   78   6    1  1
Hoggard                 12     2   35   0    2  0
Jones S.P.               9.4   1   39   1    3  1
Flintoff                20     7   29   3    0  3
Giles                    8     3   15   0    0  0


                           England won by 249 runs.
3rd Test played at Cape Town.
England 1st Innings 330 all out
Vaughan 108, Giles 67, Pollock 5-76, Ntini 3-91
South Africa 1st Innings 206 all out
Gibbs 60, Kallis 56, Harmison 5-41, Flintoff 2-35
England 2nd Innings 335 for 4 dec.
Strauss 147, Vaughan 67, Boje 2-78, Pollock 1-85
South Africa 2nd Innings 210 all out
de Villiers 70, Rudolph 48, Harmison 6-78, Flintoff 3-29
England won by 249 runs.
 

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