LONDON, 8 September 2003 — Andrew Flintoff’s blistering 95 set up England’s charge for a series-leveling victory on the fourth day of the fifth and final Test against South Africa at The Oval here yesterday. When bad light ended play with nine overs remaining, South Africa were tottering on 185 for six in their second innings - 65 ahead - after Flintoff had propelled England to 604 for nine declared and a first innings lead of 120.
When play ended early, Mark Boucher was 22 not out and Shaun Pollock was unbeaten on 19. Much depended on them, the rest of the tourists usually resilient tail and the weather if South Africa, 2-1 up, were to secure the draw that would give them a first Test series win in England since 1965.
In South Africa’s 191 run fourth Test win at Headingley their last three wickets added 200 runs in the first innings and 133 in the second. South Africa started the final session on 101 for four, 19 behind, after fast bowler Stephen Harmison took two wickets for no runs in four balls.
Neil McKenzie was three not out at the time and Jacques Rudolph four not out. Left-hander Rudolph added just four more runs when, shouldering arms to a Martin Bicknell delivery that cut back off the pitch, he was bowled off-stump.
Then Flintoff’s great day continued when the pace bowling all-rounder had McKenzie lbw for 38 even though the batsman deflected the ball into his pads. McKenzie faced 83 balls with seven fours in his 96 minute innings but at 150 for six South Africa were in trouble.
They had reached 92 for two when 24-year-old Durham quick Harmison struck. Gritty left-hander Gary Kirsten, who scored 190 runs at Headingley, had made 29 when he edged Harmison to first slip Marcus Trescothick. And the paceman then had Jacques Kallis lbw for 35 after the all-rounder went back across his stumps, the tourists struggling on 93 for four.
Both South Africa openers fell cheaply after England captain Michael Vaughan declared shortly before lunch. Herschelle Gibbs, dropped on his interval score of eight by Trescothick off Bicknell, made just one more run.
Gibbs, carving at Anderson, edged behind to Surrey wicket-keeper Alec Stewart, England’s most capped player, playing in his 133rd and last Test before international retirement, who took a safe catch on his home ground.
South Africa were now 24 for one and 10 runs later Bicknell had Smith lbw for 19 after the left-hander played outside an inswinger.
Smith, at 22 his country’s youngest ever captain, ended the series with 714 runs at an average of 79.33, a tally boosted by his two double hundreds in the first two Tests.
Earlier, Flintoff faced just 104 balls and smashed four sixes and 12 fours. He dominated a stand of 99 with Harmison, who contributed three to a partnership that surpassed England’s previous ninth-wicket record of 71 against South Africa that had stood since 1891-92.
Flintoff scored 85 runs in 77 balls Sunday as he flayed the Proteas attack all over the biggest Test ground in England, with the tourists’ pace quartet conceding over 100 runs each. But in sight of his third Test hundred and second of the series after his 142 at Lord’s, 25-year-old Flintoff was bowled by left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams after two hours 11 minutes at the crease.
Latif Banned for Five
Matches Over Unfair Catch
In Multan, Pakistan captain Rashid Latif was banned yesterday for five one-day internationals after match referee Mike Procter upheld a complaint about an unfair catch. Procter said Bangladesh had lodged a complaint against Latif for claiming a catch on Friday, the third day of the third Test.
“I have listened to both parties at length and feel there is good evidence against Latif,” Procter told a news conference. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would not appeal against the decision.
“Rashid Latif has also said he has no intentions of making an appeal and accepts the decision of the match referee,” PCB spokesman Samiul Hasan said. PCB chief executive Rameez Raja added that his board would not take any further disciplinary action against Latif.
Latif claimed a catch off Yasir’s Ali’s bowling in the Bangladesh second innings on Friday to dismiss Alok Kapali for 22. Umpires Russell Tiffin and Asoka de Silva ruled the batsman out but television replays showed Latif had not completed the catch and the ball popped out of his gloves when he fell to the ground.
The PCB have appointed Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain for the one-day series against Bangladesh in place of Latif. “We feel sorry for Latif because there is a lot of respect for him in the team,” Inzamam said. “We support him, and we will try to win this series for him.”
