BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, 3 February 2005 — England took three wickets in a dramatic final over to tie the second one-dayer with South Africa yesterday.
The home side, chasing England’s 270-5 and hoping to level the seven-match series at 1-1, looked the favorites on 263 for five and with eight to win off fast bowler Kabir Ali’s final six balls. The match seemed settled when Ali bowled a full-pitch no-ball first delivery which Mark Boucher pulled for four.
Boucher, though, was caught off an identical shot next ball and Ashwell Prince was then run out but South Africa still only needed one run off the final delivery with the scores tied.
All rounder Andrew Hall, however, missed it and was stumped by Geraint Jones, standing up, as the home side ended on 270-8, sparking huge celebrations among the England fielders as they mobbed Jones and Ali.
Ali’s first seven overs had cost 49 runs.
“It was a tough night for Kabir but that was a special last over under pressure,” said Marcus Trescothick, who stood in as captain after Michael Vaughan was sidelined by a bad stomach after batting.
Earlier powerful right-hander Kevin Pietersen, born in South Africa but who moved to England to improve his chances of international cricket, scored an unbeaten maiden century, finishing on 108 from 96 balls.
But Jacques Kallis (63) and Herschelle Gibbs (78) put on 134 for the third South African wicket to keep the game alive.
The home side still needed 82 off the last 10 overs and 36 off five as Justin Kemp, Boucher and Shaun Pollock waded with some big hitting at the death.
Earlier many of the spectators, in an orchestrated move, turned their backs on Pietersen as he walked back to the pavilion after his innings. The third game of the seven-match series takes place tomorrow in Port Elizabeth.
Pak Captain Inzamam Fined
for Going Slow
In London, Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has been fined for Pakistan’s slow over-rate during their one-day tri-series victory over West Indies on Tuesday.
International Cricket Council match referee Chris Broad ruled Inzamam had failed to ensure that his team played “within the spirit of the game” at the WACA in Perth, an ICC statement said. He was fined his entire match fee for that offence and another 30 per cent of his fee for the slow over-rate itself. The rest of the team were fined 15 per cent of their match fees.
Khan to Give Shoaib a Chance
In Karachi, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan will speak to controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar this week about his attitude and fitness prior to the tour of India starting this month.
