LEEDS, 23 August 2003 — Jacques Kallis filled the gap left by Shaun Pollock’s absence with two key wickets as South Africa checked England’s progress in the fourth Test at Headingley here yesterday. At stumps, on the second day, England were 197 for three, a deficit of 145 in reply to South Africa’s first innings 342.
Nasser Hussain was 14 not out and Ed Smith nought not out when a second bad light stoppage ended play for the day. But England had been 169 for one before Kallis removed left-handers Marcus Trescothick (59) and Mark Butcher (77). Pace bowling all-rounder Kallis took an economical two for 28 in 10.1 overs.
South Africa’s total was underpinned by Gary Kirsten’s 130, his 18th Test hundred and fifth against England. Trescothick and Butcher had added 54 in 9.5 overs after tea when the batsmen, with the series level at 1-1, instead of pressing home their advantage, accepted an offer of bad light.
It was a decision made all the more curious given that the Proteas only had four fit bowlers after debutant paceman Monde Zondeki managed just 1.5 overs before a side strain forced him out of the attack. South Africa had already started the match without leading bowler Pollock, after he returned to Durban to witness the birth of his daughter.
And nine balls after a 30-minute stoppage, England lost Trescothick for 59 when he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Kallis, who held a one-handed chance, diving to his right. Trescothick faced 126 balls, including nine fours, adding 142 with Butcher to leave England 169 for two.
Former captain Hussain settled in quickly, twice clipping expensive paceman Dewald Pretorius (nine overs for 58) through midwicket for four. But Butcher, one ball after taking a four off Kallis, statically edged through to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher. He faced 115 balls including 11 fours.
Makhaya Ntini, who earlier posted a Test-best 32 not out, took the first wicket to fall when he had England captain Michael Vaughan playing on for 15.
Vaughan, on his home ground, was unlucky to see a defensive shot bounce, spin back and clip the top corner of leg stump, England 27 for one. Ntini, showing he could bowl accurately as well as quickly, had an impressive return of 12-3-34-1.
Earlier Kirsten and Zondeki put on a South African record-equaling 150 for the eighth wicket. Theirs was a key stand after the Proteas had slumped to 142 for seven.
Zondeki batted for over three hours for 59 facing 128 balls including 10 fours for what was a career-best score in only his 16th first-class match, his partnership with Kirsten lasting 45 overs.
Debutant Kabir Ali was the most successful member of England’s all-pace attack with three for 80 from 22 overs.
South Africa resumed on 260 for seven — having collapsed to 21 for four on Thursday after captain Graeme Smith won the toss. Zondeki, 50 not out overnight, was well-caught head high at wide third slip by Butcher off fast bowler James Anderson.
Kirsten, who missed England’s series leveling third Test win at Trent Bridge with an elbow injury, went next. Trying to drive 22-year-old paceman Kabir over the top, he holed out to Martin Bicknell at mid-on.
Kirsten, 35, caught off a no-ball and dropped twice on Thursday — faced 323 balls with 17 fours, having batted for over seven-and-a-half hours.
Pollock, meanwhile, became the proud father of a daughter.
Pollock’s wife Tricia gave birth to the couple’s first child in the east coast city of Durban. “You have to make a number of sacrifices when you become an international sportsman,” Pollock said in comments quoted in Durban’s Daily News newspaper yesterday.
“Not being able to come home for important events is often one of them. Watching the birth was helluva exciting. It was much better than winning a Test.”
The Pollocks have named their daughter Jemma Leigh. Pollock will spend the rest of this week exclusively with his wife and child before starting to practice at Durban’s Kingsmead Cricket Ground next week.
