Fantastic Flintoff rescues England
Thursday, 31 Jul 2008 22:22
Andrew Flintoff was back to his best for England
A fiery late two-wicket burst from Andrew Flintoff kept England in contention in the second Test against South Africa at Edgbaston today.
The South Africans were dominating proceedings at 226/4 with Jacques Kallis going well on 64 and Ashwell Prince (37 not out) giving him good support. But Flintoff then steamed in and removed Kallis with a brilliant yorker and had AB de Villiers caught in the deep.
England still have a lot of hard work to do if they are to have any chance of winning the Test match as South Africa ended the day 256/6 with a first innings lead of 25.
It was a disappointing start to the day for England as their bowlers failed to take advantage of good bowling conditions. Night-watchman Paul Harris frustrated England as he shared in 77 run partnership with Neil McKenzie.
McKenzie survived a scare when he edged a Flintoff delivery to Andrew Strauss at slip. Strauss caught the ball but wasn't sure if the ball had hit the ground before going into his hands. TV replays were inconclusive, so the third umpire gave the decision in favour of the batsman.
Ryan Sidebottom eventually removed Harris before lunch, but it was South Africa's session as they went in on 102/2.
England got a quick breakthrough after lunch when James Anderson took a diving catch off his own bowling to remove Hashim Amla for just 9. And when Flintoff got McKenzie (72) out lbw, South Africa were in trouble at 135/4.
But Kallis and Prince steadied things with a 91 run partnership and they looked good to add a few more runs. But then Flintoff came into the attack and changed the game.
The inspirational all-rounder bowled a number of accurate yorkers which troubled Kallis in the gloomy weather. Flintoff thought he had his man when an in-swinging yorker hit Kallis on the toe, but umpire Aleem Dar didn't give it out.
Flintoff was absolutely furious with the decision and exchanged a few heated words with Dar. But he didn't have to wait long to get his deserved reward as in his next over he uprooted Kallis' off-stump with a majestic out-swinging yorker.
Things got better for England as Flintoff then had de Villiers got in the deep after the South African batsman miss-timed a hook.
England now need to come out tomorrow and take early wickets, and if Flintoff bowls like he did today then that will be a real possibility.