July 19, 2008
Tea South Africa 262 for 4 (Prince 100*, de Villiers 44*) lead England 203 by 59 runs
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After yesterday's frenzied cricket, the Headingley pitch reverted to its modern-day type with ominous consequences for England. South Africa's batsman, led by a sublime hundred from Ashwell Prince, wiped off the deficit and began to build a useful first-innings lead. With scant assistance from an increasingly flat pitch, the lead ought to become more than simply useful in the final session.
In two sessions, England have only managed a single wicket, which will be of concern not only to Peter Moores, but also Geoff Miller, the chairman of selectors. Miller's cat-out-of-the-hat selection in Darren Pattinson, the now-famous former roof-tiler, has not brought the rewards he hoped for, even though it was he who removed Hashim Amla for a well-constructed 38. The delivery was full, sliding down the leg-side, and only a slice of ill-fortune for Amla sent him packing. At least it appeased England's anger at Michael Vaughan's catch to dismiss Amla yesterday evening which was turned down by the TV umpire.
Pattinson is playing his 12th first-class game and his first Test match. As Ryan Sidebottom proved on his return to the England side last year, county cricket is an excellent training ground for Test match bowlers; an arena in which they can prepare for a sterner international test. Sidebottom has thrived ever since. Pattinson has leapfrogged four or more shoo-ins to play here, and he was a rusty, stiff liability in the field too.
None of this discredits Prince's resolute calmness, reaching his second hundred in successive Tests and only twice offering half-chances throughout his 194-ball ton. He capitalised on anything short, pulling Stuart Broad over midwicket, while even Flintoff struggled to make an impression on the left-hander. In this climate of spiralling run-rates, Prince's turgid pace is a throwback to another era, refusing to be lured into anything wide yet defending with his life, and an increasingly broad-looking blade.
Given his seamers' ineffectiveness it was a surprise Vaughan delayed Panesar into the attack. He too, however, struggled to tie South Africa up, largely through Prince and de Villiers' premeditated attack on England's spinner. Prince lofted him over the top to bring up his fifty, and in his next over clouted an even sweeter shot over long-on for his second six as the pair brought up their hundred partnership.
BY-Cricinfo
