Smith and Amla ensure day two victory for SA

Cricket365
July 24, 2012

South Africa ended day two of the first Test against England still 299 runs behind, but with only one wicket down after Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla recovered from the early loss of Alviro Petersen.

England had recorded 385 all out an hour after lunch, and despite a lengthy rain delay after tea, the Proteas batted steadily in the evening session to post 86 for one at stumps.

Smith ended the day on 37, while Amla was the more aggressive of the duo and went in at stump on 47 not out, the partnership on 85.

England would have been disappointed with their total, especially was they began the day on 267 for three, with centurion Alastair Cook at the crease and a number of good batsmen still to come.

The Proteas bowlers were far more aggressive and controlled compared to day one, when they allowed England a lot of room to leave the ball and were rather flat in the field. Dale Steyn in particular was fired up on day two, and he got his reward with Cook's wicket early on.

The ODI skipper could only add one run to his overnight score of 114 and was bowled by Steyn. This started the rot and only Matt Prior could add a significant score, batting with the tail falling around him to make 60, himself going out caught behind off Morne Morkel.

Morkel finished the innings with four wickets, including Ravi Bopara for a duck. The Essex all-rounder, back in the side for the first time in a while, faced only six balls before trying to hook Steyn, but only managing to feather an edge to AB de Villiers.

When England were finally wrapped up an hour after lunch, South Africa came in to chase their decent target. Petersen fell with the score on one, trapped plumb LBW to James Anderson and batting partner/skipper Smith didn't even bother calling for a review.

Veterans Smith and Amla then proceeded to show their class under pressure, with Anderson and Stuart Broad bowling quickly and accurately with the new ball. They got 11 overs in before tea, and then one after before the rain arrived, delaying proceedings for nearly two hours.

When the sides re-emerged, Smith and Amla echoed Cook and Jonathan Trott's efforts from the day before, grafting away to steady the proverbial ship after the loss of an early scalp. England would have been heartened by Swann's bowling though, as he got some good turn in the developing footholes.

South African hearts would have been in their mouths with 10 minutes to go though, as Ravi Bopara's first over saw Amla nicking to the slips, but Andrew Strauss was unable to hold onto the difficult, rising chance.