England set target of 197 to win Test
England need 197 on the final day if Kevin Pietersen is to get his captaincy off to a winning start
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Sunday, 10, Aug 2008 08:54
England have been set a target of 197 by South Africa in the final Test at the Oval.
Rain stopped play with England on 0-0, so the total will need to be reached during Monday's final three sessions.
After Saturday was almost entirely washed out, England looked on-course for a comfortable victory, as they took the wicket of danger-man Hashim Amla in just the third over of Sunday's play.
Amla went for 76 when he was caught behind by Tim Ambrose off the bowling of Steve Harmison.
Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince both went before lunch to leave South Africa seven wickets down with a lead of just 96.
But AB de Villiers, with a brilliant knock of 97, and Paul Harris shared 95 to set England a more difficult, if still attainable, target.
Both de Villiers and Harris went within eight balls of each other as South Africa posted a second innings total of 318.
Once again the wickets were shared between England's bowlers with Harmison, James Anderson and Monty Panesar taking two wickets each, while Stuart Broad got three wickets.
England finished the day in control, and with Monday's weather forecast positive, will be confident of winning the Test and getting Kevin Pietersen's reign as captain off to a positive start.