Collingwood rescues England career with gutsy century
Friday, 01 Aug 2008 22:42
Paul Collingwood had hit 43 runs in his previous six Test innings.
Paul Collingwood saved his international career with a gutsy century as England ended on 297-6 on day three of the third Test at Edgbaston.
The Durham batsman is unbeaten on 101 while Kevin Pietersen hit 94 to give England a 214-lead in their bid to square the series.
Collingwood, who was controversially recalled to the side, came to the crease with England struggling on 104-4 and put on an entertaining 115-stand with Pietersen.
Earlier, the Proteas were bowled out for 314 with Ryan Sidebottom (3-81) and James Anderson (3-72) getting rid of the lower order.
England need to win this Test to stand a chance of winning the four-match series.
And their cause began well when Ashwell Prince (47) edged a delivery from Sidebottom to wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose.
Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher rode his luck, surviving dropped catches from Collingwood and Monty Panesar.
At the other end, Morne Morkel was trapped lbw by Anderson while Andrew Nel had his stumps rearranged by Sidebottom.
Boucher (40) was the last man to fall when he was caught by a diving catch from skipper Michael Vaughan off the bowling of Anderson.
Trailing by 66 runs, England's batting woes continued this time with opener Alastair Cook out for nine after top-edging a vicious delivery from Makhaya Ntini.
Out-of-form Michael Vaughan hit four quick boundaries before being dismissed for 17 after being caught by Hashim Amla at short extra cover off Nel.
England were then reduced to 70-3 when Andrew Strauss (25) edged a delivery from Morne Morkel to Jacques Kallis in the slips.
It got worse when Ian Bell became the latest batsman to fail to capitalise on a good start when he nicked a delivery from Ntini to Boucher for 20.
But after tea the tide changed with Pietersen and Collingwood dominating the tourists' erratic bowling attack.
Pietersen hit two reverse shots off Harris but the spinner had the final say when he dismissed the batsman for 94 after one risky shot too many.
Flintoff failed to match his heroics with the ball, lasting just four balls when he was caught by Amla off Harris.
At the other end, Collingwood hit back at his critics with 14 boundaries, and brought up his century with a towering six.
Ambrose provided good support with an unbeaten 19 off 78 balls at stumps to give England hope of squaring the series.