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By Ben Dirs
SOUTH AFRICA FIRST INNINGS
**0836 - WICKET - De Wet lbw b Anderson 0 (SA 291) **
England reckon they’ve wrapped things up - Anderson with a very confident lbw appeal against De Wet. De Wet taps his bat, it’s referred, and the Man Upstairs agrees with the man in the middle, that’s plumb. Blink and you missed it, the Saffers are no more.**0833 - 291-9 ** Close of play from the SCG on day two of the third Test, Pakistan lead Australia by 204 with one wicket remaining. Lucky for Harris, edging through the slips and away for four. A little short from Onions and Harris jabs him through mid-wicket for a few more, before De Wet, taking evasive action, is struck between the shoulder blades and the hosts pick up one leg-bye. Michael Vaughan on TMS:
“Is this a sign that this will be a difficult day for batting or are England just bowling superbly The new ball will be absolutely crucial for South Africa at the start of England’s reply.”**0827 - 281-9 ** Friedel de Wet is last up the ramp, as replays show that Swann catch was about 10 times as difficult than the one he dropped off Graeme Smith yesterday morning. De Wet has a windy woosh outside off and misses, before shouldering arms. Not a bad start for England
** 0825 - WICKET - Morkel c Swann b Anderson 0 (SA 281-9) ** Paul Harris is next out of the hutch, and he’s off the mark with a nibble to leg. KISS MY FACE! Morkel’s gone for a big fat duck, wafting away from his body and Swann taking a fine low catch diving to his left in the slips.
**0821 - WICKET - Steyn c Trott b Anderson 26 (SA 280-8) **
AND ANOTHER! Bit of away-swing from Anderson, Steyn has a waft and Trott takes a very good catch at third slip. This is some start for England, as the man opposite me roars: “WILL EVERYONE PLEASE STOP GOING ON ABOUT PHIL TAYLOR!” **0821 - 280-7 ** Morne Morkel is the new batsman, and he survives the rest of the first over of the day. Very useful cricketer, Onions, I like him very much. That innings of Kallis lasted 266 minutes and 189 balls.
0816 - WICKET - Kallis c Prior b Onions 108 (SA 280-7)
Steyn offers half a chance from the first ball of the day, but the ball just evades Cook at short-leg. On second viewing, that was off the thigh pad… KALLIS GONE SECOND BALL OF THE DAY! Unplayable delivery from Onions, the ball pitching and spitting like fat from a frying pan and taking the edge. Easy catch for Prior, massive moment for England.**0814: ** Right, here come the players, we’ll have some play in a few minutes… Kallis and Steyn the South African batsmen, Steyn on strike, Onions to bowl the first ball of the morning…“Morning Dirsy. Jimmy A to wreak havoc with new cherry this morning, followed by glorious batting conditions for our response.”
**D, ever optimistic, Yorkshire, in the TMS inbox****0808: ** I propose a minute’s applause for Sir Philip Taylor at 1200 GMT today. One day, you will perch your grandchildren on your knees and tell them: “I never saw anyone run faster than Usain Bolt, I never saw anyone fight harder than Muhammad Ali, and I never saw anyone throw tiny arrows at variously coloured segments with greater accuracy than ‘The Power’, Britain’s greatest sportsman since Christopher Dean.”
**0804: ** Clear skies over Cape Town, reports CMJ on TMS, and indeed, TV pictures reveal it’s Smurf blue above Newlands, but not a wispy white cap in sight. **0800: ** Hello. Happy to be back in the office Thought so. Pivotal day in the third Test today, England could really do with ripping Big Jacques out early…