The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: South Africa bat two days to earn draw

South Africa's Jacques Kallis is bowled for 13 by England's Ryan Sidebottom during the final day of the first Test at Lord's cricket ground, yesterday. The Test ended in a draw. - AP

LONDON (AP)

South Africa successfully held out against England for more than two days to draw the first Test, yesterday.

When stumps were drawn midway through the evening session at Lord's, with England employing part-time spinners Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook, South Africa had progressed to 393-3, a lead of 47.

The visitors began their follow-on innings after being dismissed on Saturday for 247. Having lost 10 wickets in a single day and needing 346 to make England bat again, South Africa's chances of saving the match seemed remote.

Welcomed assistance

But Neil McKenzie, Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla all scored centuries in the final two days. Their defence and perseverance were aided by a flat pitch and an England attack that lacked penetration.

After Smith was dismissed late Sunday for 107, McKenzie and Amla put on 125 for the second wicket to take the game away from England, which had made 593-8.

By the time McKenzie was dismissed for 138 and Jacques Kallis for 13 after lunch, it was too late for England to mount a late charge.

Frustrating

England captain Michael Vaughan admitted that it was frustrating to finish with a draw after dominating the first three days.

"These last two days, we gave everything," Vaughan said. "All credit to South Africa. They batted really, really well. I couldn't have asked anything more from the England players."

Amla finished on 104 not out, his fifth Test century and first against England. He occupied the crease for 344 minutes and faced 242 balls to keep England at bay. Ashwell Prince, who scored a century in the first innings, ended on nine not out after being dropped on 0 and 2. "It didn't go so well for me when we played England in South Africa four years ago," said Amla, who was dismissed for six in the first innings. "So it was really satisfying to get a hundred here today."

Fit for next test

The second innings, though, belonged to McKenzie. When James Anderson induced the opener to chase one outside off stump, he ended a 554-minute innings that began on Saturday. McKenzie had just called for a runner before he was dismissed after injuring his groin, but is expected to be fit for the second Test.

When McKenzie pushed the ball through point Sunday to bring up his fifth Test century in 384 minutes, he eclipsed Gary Kirsten's record for the slowest South African century against England by two minutes.