Smith keeps his cool on a hot day for England
Plays of the day for day three of the third Test between South Africa and England at Cape Town
Andrew McGlashan in Cape Town
05-Jan-2010
Morne Morkel got the day off to another flying start with two wickets in the first over • Getty Images
Another quiet start
For the second day running anyone taking their seat a few minutes late would have looked up at the scoreboard and realised they'd missed something. Following Graham Onions' lead from yesterday Morne Morkel was soon in the action when a well-directed bouncer was fended to first slip by Graeme Swann. Next ball it got better for Morkel as Jimmy Anderson fenced another catch to Graeme Smith to give him his fifth-wicket. Although Matt Prior briefly rallied for England, Morkel's early blow had set the tone for South Africa's day.
For the second day running anyone taking their seat a few minutes late would have looked up at the scoreboard and realised they'd missed something. Following Graham Onions' lead from yesterday Morne Morkel was soon in the action when a well-directed bouncer was fended to first slip by Graeme Swann. Next ball it got better for Morkel as Jimmy Anderson fenced another catch to Graeme Smith to give him his fifth-wicket. Although Matt Prior briefly rallied for England, Morkel's early blow had set the tone for South Africa's day.
Prince goes for a walk
Daryl Harper is having an interesting match. On the second day he had to change a leg-bye signal to four runs and today he gave an horrendous decision against Ashwell Prince which was swiftly overturned on review. However, in Harper's defence Prince didn't do himself any favours as he shaped to walk after missing a leg glance. The ball had clipped the pad, but Prince motioned to make his way back to the pavilion so Harper raised his finger. Prince immediately called in a review and the pictures showed he'd missed the ball by some distance. His reprieve, though, didn't last long before he again fell to Graeme Swann.
Daryl Harper is having an interesting match. On the second day he had to change a leg-bye signal to four runs and today he gave an horrendous decision against Ashwell Prince which was swiftly overturned on review. However, in Harper's defence Prince didn't do himself any favours as he shaped to walk after missing a leg glance. The ball had clipped the pad, but Prince motioned to make his way back to the pavilion so Harper raised his finger. Prince immediately called in a review and the pictures showed he'd missed the ball by some distance. His reprieve, though, didn't last long before he again fell to Graeme Swann.
Take five
South Africa accelerated during the afternoon session with the most free-scoring period of the match. With Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla both well-set, at one point a 10-over period brought a run rate above six-an-over as England started to lose control. With boundaries leaking the last thing they needed was to gift South Africa any extras, but to sum up their afternoon the total was boosted to the tune of five runs when Matt Prior missed a delivery from Swann that beat Smith and scooted through to hit the helmet.
South Africa accelerated during the afternoon session with the most free-scoring period of the match. With Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla both well-set, at one point a 10-over period brought a run rate above six-an-over as England started to lose control. With boundaries leaking the last thing they needed was to gift South Africa any extras, but to sum up their afternoon the total was boosted to the tune of five runs when Matt Prior missed a delivery from Swann that beat Smith and scooted through to hit the helmet.
Jimmy heads to boiling point
It was seriously hot work in the middle as the day wore on and England started to feel the heat in more ways than one. After a wicketless session between lunch and tea they were desperate for a breakthrough, but Smith and Amla forged on. Jimmy Anderson's mood wasn't helped when he conceded consecutive boundaries to Smith. Paul Collingwood couldn't do much about the first at fine leg, but Stuart Broad should have done better at mid-on with his dive. Anderson wasn't impressed and when he collected a subsequent delivery in his follow through he hurled it straight back at the stumps in frustration.
It was seriously hot work in the middle as the day wore on and England started to feel the heat in more ways than one. After a wicketless session between lunch and tea they were desperate for a breakthrough, but Smith and Amla forged on. Jimmy Anderson's mood wasn't helped when he conceded consecutive boundaries to Smith. Paul Collingwood couldn't do much about the first at fine leg, but Stuart Broad should have done better at mid-on with his dive. Anderson wasn't impressed and when he collected a subsequent delivery in his follow through he hurled it straight back at the stumps in frustration.
Hot under the collar
Anderson wasn't the only one losing his cool. Graeme Swann is a chirpy, unflappable character most of the time, but even he started to lose his rag. When Amla played yet another sweep off him, Broad ambled around from deep square-leg to hurl the ball in and Swann clearly thought the batsmen should have been kept to a single. He waved his arms in annoyance and marched back towards slip with the odd chunter. When Swann can't see the funny side you know the problems are mounting.
Anderson wasn't the only one losing his cool. Graeme Swann is a chirpy, unflappable character most of the time, but even he started to lose his rag. When Amla played yet another sweep off him, Broad ambled around from deep square-leg to hurl the ball in and Swann clearly thought the batsmen should have been kept to a single. He waved his arms in annoyance and marched back towards slip with the odd chunter. When Swann can't see the funny side you know the problems are mounting.
Welcome home, Trotty
Jonathan Trott and Graeme Smith used to be team-mates at Western Province, but now they are adversaries of the strongest kind. Smith has made it clear he isn't happy with the time Trott takes to prepare himself at the crease so there was always likely to be a bit of needle if Smith ever faced Trott's bowling. To make it tougher for Trott, Smith had a hundred to his name and was seeing it like a football when he crunched four boundaries in an over including a dismissive lofted straight drive. Now all we need is Smith to have a bowl at Trott.
Jonathan Trott and Graeme Smith used to be team-mates at Western Province, but now they are adversaries of the strongest kind. Smith has made it clear he isn't happy with the time Trott takes to prepare himself at the crease so there was always likely to be a bit of needle if Smith ever faced Trott's bowling. To make it tougher for Trott, Smith had a hundred to his name and was seeing it like a football when he crunched four boundaries in an over including a dismissive lofted straight drive. Now all we need is Smith to have a bowl at Trott.
Andrew McGlashan is assistant editor of Cricinfo