England Lose Three Key Wickets In Pursuit Of 466

England Lose Three Key Wickets In Pursuit Of 466

View of the action on day four.

©REUTERS/Philip Brown (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET ENVIRONMENT) Picture Supplied by Action Images

South Africa 291 & 447-7 dec . (Smith 183, Amla 95) v
England 273 & 132-3 (Cook 55)
Third Test, Cape Town, day four: stumps

England lost the wickets of Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen to close day four of the third Test against South Africa on 132 for three after being set 466 to win.

South African captain Graeme Smith missed out on scoring a third double-century against England but his 183 ensured that his side were well ahead before the declaration came with his side on 447 for seven after lunch.

Smith was finally caught by Paul Collingwood off Graham Onions having faced 273 deliveries and hit 25 fours and put his side well ahead.

South Africa managed to add 85 runs in the morning session, which also saw England dismiss Jacques Kallis for 46 when he edged James Anderson to Matthew Prior.

After lunch, AB de Villiers (34), JP Duminy (36 not out) and Mark Boucher (15) accelerated before the declaration that left England requiring a world record to win the game or four and a half sessions to save the game.

They started strongly, openers Andrew Strauss (45) and Alastair Cook (55) first resisting a strong new-ball examination from Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Friedel de Wet and then dominating spinner Paul Harris.

However, shortly after their century partnership came up, Cook was out, spooning a pull shot high into the air to give Boucher a simple catch behind the stumps and de Wet the breakthrough and soon after Strauss' vigil ended when he was caught at bat-pad by Hashim Amla off Harris.

England could ill afford a third wicket to go down, but it did when Pietersen was trapped in front by Steyn for six, leaving Jonathan Trott, on 24, and nightwatchman James Anderson, yet to score, unbeaten at the close of play.

England lead the four-match series 1-0.

© Cricket World 2009

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