England Face Huge Battle To Save Final Test

England Face Huge Battle To Save Final Test

Dale Steyn (centre) celebrates the dismissal of Jonathan Trott (left) late on day three.

©REUTERS/Philip Brown (SOUTH AFRICA CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

England 180 & 48-3 (Parnell 1-5, Steyn 1-18) v
South Africa 423-7 dec. (Smith 105, Boucher 95)
Scorecard
Fourth Test, Johannesburg, day three

England closed day three of the fourth and final Test against South Africa 195 runs behind with seven second-innings wickets in hand after South Africa continued to dominate the match at The Wanderers.

After England were bowled out for 180 on day one, South Africa declared their first innings on 423 for seven before reducing England to 48 for three at stumps.

With the threat of thunderstorms looming, South Africa looked to score quick runs but were pegged back by the early dismissals of Hashim Amla (75), Jacques Kallis (7) and JP Duminy (7) before a 120-run partnership between AB de Villiers (58) and Mark Boucher (95) put South Africa in the clear.

England bowled well in the first two sessions of the day, but without luck and Boucher's dismissal five runs short of his century pre-empted the declaration.

England then lose the key wickets of Andrew Strauss (22), Alastair Cook (1) and Jonathan Trott (8) to leave themselves two days to bat their way out of trouble and attempt to maintain their 1-0 series lead.

© Cricket World 2010

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