Eager Philander and lucky Prior
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fifth day of the third Test at Lord's
Firdose Moonda and George Dobell at Lord's
20-Aug-2012
Imran Tahir charged off in his trademark celebration after bowling Jonny Bairstow • PA Photos
Drop of the day
Most of the drops in the series have come with England in the field - nine to be exact - but South Africa have occasionally been guilty of the same. Jacques Rudolph was the culprit, when Jonathan Trott was drawn into the drive by Jacques Kallis. A slightly more difficult than regulation chance presented itself, Rudolph would have had to move to his left and stretch a touch but he was already heading in that direction when Trott got into position to play the cover drive. The ball squirted out of Rudolph's grasp and ran away to third man for four. Trott was on 37 at the time and went on to almost double his score, a costly drop for Rudolph, if not ultimately significant.
Most of the drops in the series have come with England in the field - nine to be exact - but South Africa have occasionally been guilty of the same. Jacques Rudolph was the culprit, when Jonathan Trott was drawn into the drive by Jacques Kallis. A slightly more difficult than regulation chance presented itself, Rudolph would have had to move to his left and stretch a touch but he was already heading in that direction when Trott got into position to play the cover drive. The ball squirted out of Rudolph's grasp and ran away to third man for four. Trott was on 37 at the time and went on to almost double his score, a costly drop for Rudolph, if not ultimately significant.
Celebration of the day
Imran Tahir was told to rein in his over-the-top celebrations as part of the new Gary Kirsten stable approach to success and failure but he could not hold back when he took the wicket that opened up England's middle order. Jonny Bairstow should have gone forward to one that pitched on leg and turned across him but he stayed back and could not get his bat down in time to keep it out. Tahir charged away from his team-mates towards the pavilion, yanking his shirt at the point close to his heart. He stopped only when fairly close to pavilion and glared at it while his team-mates caught up with him. In the past, he would have run almost over the boundary so he showed some measure of restraint.
Imran Tahir was told to rein in his over-the-top celebrations as part of the new Gary Kirsten stable approach to success and failure but he could not hold back when he took the wicket that opened up England's middle order. Jonny Bairstow should have gone forward to one that pitched on leg and turned across him but he stayed back and could not get his bat down in time to keep it out. Tahir charged away from his team-mates towards the pavilion, yanking his shirt at the point close to his heart. He stopped only when fairly close to pavilion and glared at it while his team-mates caught up with him. In the past, he would have run almost over the boundary so he showed some measure of restraint.
Over-eagerness of the day
Vernon Philander had his best two days of the series and was so keen for it to continue that when he hit Trott above the knee roll he appealed vociferously and immediately thought it was out. His appeal was rejected but Philander did not even wait for Graeme Smith and made the T sign himself, asking for the review. Smith was so unimpressed with the bowler's impulsiveness, he turned his back on him and went to consult with AB de Villiers, leaving Philander with his arms crossed. After a few seconds, Smith turned around again and shook his head, indicating he would not ask for the review and he was correct not to - the ball was bouncing over the top of leg stump.
Vernon Philander had his best two days of the series and was so keen for it to continue that when he hit Trott above the knee roll he appealed vociferously and immediately thought it was out. His appeal was rejected but Philander did not even wait for Graeme Smith and made the T sign himself, asking for the review. Smith was so unimpressed with the bowler's impulsiveness, he turned his back on him and went to consult with AB de Villiers, leaving Philander with his arms crossed. After a few seconds, Smith turned around again and shook his head, indicating he would not ask for the review and he was correct not to - the ball was bouncing over the top of leg stump.
Key wicket of the day
If England were to have any realistic hope of chasing down a challenging target on the final day, they needed their most experienced batsmen to contribute a good chunk of the runs. Instead they lost Ian Bell early. Most galling was the manner of the wicket: Bell, ignoring the fact that the South African seamers were finding substantial movement, opted not to see his side through a testing first session, but flashed well away from his body and edged to slip. It was a loose shot of an experienced man of whom more was expected.
If England were to have any realistic hope of chasing down a challenging target on the final day, they needed their most experienced batsmen to contribute a good chunk of the runs. Instead they lost Ian Bell early. Most galling was the manner of the wicket: Bell, ignoring the fact that the South African seamers were finding substantial movement, opted not to see his side through a testing first session, but flashed well away from his body and edged to slip. It was a loose shot of an experienced man of whom more was expected.
Telling moment of the day
Graham Gooch sunk his head into his hands after the run out of James Taylor. Taylor was dismissed having been sent back by Jonathan Trott after attempting a fourth run. It was a moment that typified the way in which England, probably confronted by a superior foe, worsened their plight with a series of self-inflicted wounds.
Graham Gooch sunk his head into his hands after the run out of James Taylor. Taylor was dismissed having been sent back by Jonathan Trott after attempting a fourth run. It was a moment that typified the way in which England, probably confronted by a superior foe, worsened their plight with a series of self-inflicted wounds.
Revival of the day
Just when it seemed all hope had gone, England were revived through an outrageous stand of 74 in 66 balls for the eighth wicket between Graeme Swann and Matt Prior. Swann, counterattacking with bravado, smashed 41 in 34 balls but, responding to the sight of Prior bearing down on him, was forced into an unlikely single. JP Duminy's throw was far from perfect but Imran Tahir, the bowler, collected neatly and hit the stumps with his own throw from close range to seal a tight run out that ended England's last realistic hope of victory.
Just when it seemed all hope had gone, England were revived through an outrageous stand of 74 in 66 balls for the eighth wicket between Graeme Swann and Matt Prior. Swann, counterattacking with bravado, smashed 41 in 34 balls but, responding to the sight of Prior bearing down on him, was forced into an unlikely single. JP Duminy's throw was far from perfect but Imran Tahir, the bowler, collected neatly and hit the stumps with his own throw from close range to seal a tight run out that ended England's last realistic hope of victory.
Twist of the day
In the end it made no difference but Matt Prior won a remarkable reprieve that, for a time, provided another twist in a remarkable and absorbing game of cricket. It seemed Prior was out when, attempting to slash a delivery from Morkel through the off side, he scooped the ball to Duminy running in from the cover boundary. Prior was just feet away from crossing the boundary rope when a roar from the crowd alerted him to a shred of hope and he turned to find that Simon Taufel, the on-field umpire, had asked Rod Tucker, the third umpire, to check whether Morkel had overstepped and delivered a no-ball. Replays showed that he had and Prior, for a short while anyway, sustained England's slim hopes.
In the end it made no difference but Matt Prior won a remarkable reprieve that, for a time, provided another twist in a remarkable and absorbing game of cricket. It seemed Prior was out when, attempting to slash a delivery from Morkel through the off side, he scooped the ball to Duminy running in from the cover boundary. Prior was just feet away from crossing the boundary rope when a roar from the crowd alerted him to a shred of hope and he turned to find that Simon Taufel, the on-field umpire, had asked Rod Tucker, the third umpire, to check whether Morkel had overstepped and delivered a no-ball. Replays showed that he had and Prior, for a short while anyway, sustained England's slim hopes.