England v South Africa: Alviro Petersen takes control on day two of the second Test

 

Alviro Petersen scored 182, his highest in a test match, as he steered South African to a commanding 419 all out on day two of the second test at Headingley on Friday.

England safely reached 48 without loss when bad light and rain ended play with 22 overs still to be bowled.

Alastair Cook was on 20 and Andrew Strauss 19 after surviving some erratic bowling which mixed accurate and moving deliveries that narrowly missed the outside edge with more wayward balls that were suitably dispatched for boundaries.

South Africa are the team in the control and England will need to bat until Sunday if they are to at least pull level with the tourists' total.

England, 1-0 down in the three-match series, must avoid defeat in the series if they are to prevent South Africa from leapfrogging them to the top of the world test rankings.

Petersen did not appear in the field for South Africa after injuring himself late in his innings.

Petersen's innings, which lasted 530 minutes, surpassed his previous best of 156 against New Zealand as he punished England for dropping him on 29 on the first morning when Cook spilled a straightforward chance at second slip.

Petersen was finally caught behind off Stuart Broad, but only departed after an England review when umpire Rod Tucker initially gave him not out.

It was the third time an original decision was overturned on review, the previous two involving 'out' lbw decisions against Petersen when on 119 and 124.

South Africa had to survive a testing morning, as England began the day with six maidens and they took 25 minutes to score their first run against very accurate and threatening bowling from Broad and James Anderson. But the Proteas came through to maintain their advantage.

JP Duminy scored 48 not out at number eight, shepherding the tail to see the Proteas past the morale-boosting mark of 400.

The first wicket of the day was left-hander Jacques Rudolph, who was stumped from a ripping turner by part-time spinner Kevin Pietersen after the decision was sent to third umpire Asad Rauf.

Petersen was hardly troubled though in his 365-ball innings and he was especially profitable through the square leg and midwicket regions any time England's bowlers' strayed with their line.

Steven Finn had Vernon Philander (13) caught on the square leg boundary, Morne Morkel (19) added 39 precious runs with Duminy for the ninth wicket before he was caught at mid-on off Broad, and Anderson had last man Imran Tahir caught at slip for a duck.

Strauss was almost caught at first slip by Graeme Smith off Philander on six but the ball bounced inches short of the fielder. He responded by playing two elegant straight driven fours to Philander and then Dale Steyn in the next over.

Reuters

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: A tight game between Northampton and Bradford

A tight game could be in prospect here. Northampton have been keeping things very tight of late and ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: Feeling ill and racing in the rain must be pretty grim

I can’t ever watch games of football or rugby without wistfully wondering what it must be like to be...

by Martin Ayres

PSG and the French league must be more proactive in dealing with hooliganism

Since PSG’s exit to Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League quarter-final in April, PSG have been sur...

by Matthew Riding

       
Career Services

Day In a Page

The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in
The real thing? Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'

The real thing?

Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'
Gordon Ramsey's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

The pugnacious chef finally met a shambolic restaurant he couldn't save. John Walsh on when TV makover refuseniks fight back
Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Glamorous myth of the flight attendant lifestyle undermined by angry employee's claims of 'exploitation'
Braising saddles: Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it!

Braising saddles: How to cook horse meat

Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it! Will Coldwell hoofs it to the kitchen.
Why bitters are back on the bar: A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails

Why bitters are back on the bar

A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails. No wonder we're learning to love them again...