Cricket: Progress unchecked by Border

England A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320 and 175-5

Border 200

SURVEYING the grassy banks of Buffalo Park - which have been so empty for the visit of England A that a herd of wildebeest could have roamed it undisturbed - it has not been immediately obvious that South Africa is in a cricket ferment.

Yet, as far as the national side's one-day performances in Australia are concerned, it is. Even the most mundane team change is front-page news, while a minimal grasp of the game is sufficient to prompt rave or rage over their displays.

Yesterday anyone with access to the subscription channel that carries the cricket was up at 5.20am to watch the live coverage. Just under five hours later, as England resumed their match with Border, barely a dozen people had taken advantage of the free admission.

England have controlled this match with ease, their biggest problem coming off the pitch. Dominic Cork's weekend departure for England, because of illness in his family, has upset the balance of the side for Thursday's 'Test' match.

After Steve Rhodes's first representative century had engineered a recovery from 93 for 4 to 320 on Saturday, England yesterday took a first-innings lead of 120, dismissing the last six batsmen for 75 in 26 overs.

Peter Such, rewarded for tossing the ball up with flight and turn, took 2 for 16 in 11 overs while Mark Ilott gained successive wickets to finish the innings and take his tour tally to 27 in five first-class matches. He will have noted Caribbean reports of Chris Lewis's injury with interest.

England lost John Crawley, bowled by an inswinger, and Adrian Dale cheaply, but Hugh Morris and Alan Wells batted confidently until falling to short balls from Brenden Fourie, gloving behind and pulling respectively.

Though Fourie's quicker ball has attracted the interest of both England and the umpires, both those particular deliveries were fine - which is not to say the batsmen were unaffected by the knowledge that he bowls a hard-to-pick bouncer which is much quicker than his usual ball.

Frans Cronje then had Malachy Loye leg-before with what proved the last ball of the day as rain thwarted England's push for a declaration.

(Third day of four; England A won toss)

ENGLAND A - First Innings 320 (S J Rhodes 108, M B Loye 71).

BORDER - First Innings

(Overnight: 125 for 4)

P C Strydom lbw b Such. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

F J Cronje b McCague. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

S J Palframan c Wells b Such. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

K Bauermeister b Croft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

*I L Howell not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

B C Fourie c Rhodes b Ilott. . . . . . . . . . . . .2

A Badenhorst c Rhodes b Ilott. . . . . . . . . . . .0

Extras (b1 lb4 w1 nb6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200

Fall (cont): 5-145 6-149 7-160 8-180 9-200.

Bowling: McCague 12-2-48-1; Ilott 12.5-3-30- 3; Taylor 15-3-36-1; Croft 29-10-43-2; Such 23- 11-38-2.

ENGLAND A - Second Innings

J P Crawley b Fourie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

*H Morris c Palframan b Fourie. . . . . . . . . . .55

A Dale b Botha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

A P Wells c Stonier b Fourie. . . . . . . . . . . .46

M B Loye lbw b Cronje. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

S J Rhodes not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Extras (b6 lb4 nb1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Total (for 5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175

Fall: 1-17 2-54 3-120 4-137 5-175.

To bat: R D B Croft, M J McCague, M C Ilott, P M Such, J P Taylor.

Bowling (to date): Badenhorst 9-0-21-0; Howell 11-1-43-0; Fourie 21-4-59-3; Bauermeister 9-3-16-0; Botha 8-3-14-1; Cronje 4-0-12-1.

Umpires: K Liebenberg and E Baillie.

Waugh's game, page 31