England v SA, 2nd Test day two as it happened

Tag : Men's Slippers
1537 - SA 262-4 (84 overs)
ABDV prods hesitantly at Anderson, but they run three to the coverboundary to bring Prince back on strike. Can he pick up his secondhundred in consecutive Tests (and his ninth overall)? Yes he can,nudging it to fine leg for a single. The helmet's off, he gets ahug from ABDV and he raises his bat to the packed South Africaviewing area.
1533 - SA 258-4 (83 overs)
Flintoff returns, to a general cheer from the crowd, but Princesteers his first ball through the covers for two. He then shows afew nerves by swinging and missing at one outside off stump. Princeis then rapped on the pad, Fred raises both hands to the heavens inexhortation, but Billy B is unmoved - and the replay backs hisdecision as it pitched a smidgen outside leg stump. A confidentoff-drive then takes Prince to 99.
"Re: Bruce at 1459 ; Not to be a pedant but why would you dead heada daisy, or any other flower, if it's still blooming?"
Duncan Tanner in the TMS inbox
1528 - SA 252-4 (82 overs)
The new ball is now taken - an over after it could have been done,and the shining new cherry is handed to James Anderson. Princeshows no respect for the new ball by brutally pulling Anderson tothe midwicket fence for four, before nudging a single to take hispersonal total to 93. And if you want a closer look at Sir TomCourtenay's mammoth Dickensian sideburns (from his interview byAggers during the lunch interview), take a look at the TMSphotostream on Flickr where the 'burns are shown in their fullglory.
INTERNET LINK: Sir Tom Courtenay on the TMS Flickr stream
1524 - SA 247-4 (81 overs)
The second new ball is available - but not taken. Why? ShaunPollock on TMS thinks England might be saving their main seambowlers so they can charge in, refreshed, after tea. Prince nudgesa single, ABDV defends the rest of the over.
1522 - SA 246-4 (80 overs)
Last compulsory over with the old ball, and more easy singles forthe batsmen off KP.
"How about four of Australia's finest cricketers who decided anacting career was a tempting option and landed parts in a 2008Bollywood film entitled Victory...? Brett Lee, Allan Border, MikeHussey and Jason Gillespie. Simon Jones of England fame alsofeatures..."
Emma Geary in the TMS inbox
[As do Dimi Mascarenhas and, ulp, Sajid Mahmood - MM]
1519 - SA 243-4 (79 overs)
Prince brings up the century stand with a measured single tolong-on, while a bespectacled member of the crowd prefers to read acricket reference book with Monty on the front cover.
"Why do people criticise Darren Pattinson? He doesn't bowl wideslike Steve Harmison would have!"
Andrew Webb, Nuneaton, in the TMS inbox
1516 - SA 242-4 (78 overs)
In another bid to hustle through the last few overs with the oldball, England turn to Kevin Pietersen's off-spin. He doesn't evenbother to take his dark sunglasses off, and Prince and de Villiersare well set now - they plunder ones and twos off nearly everyball, and this partnership is now worth 99.
1514 - SA 237-4 (77 overs)
ABDV and Prince exchange singles as England hurry through Monty'sover, with the new ball fast approaching.
"Raffles, of course, was a jewel thief in the winter"
Pete Blott, Lutterworth, in the TMS inbox
INTERNET LINK: Raffles, the gentleman thief and cricketer
1511 - SA 235-4 (76 overs)
De Villiers steers Patto for a single to deep square leg, he nowhas 38. Prince clubs a full toss back in the air, but it bounceswell in front of the diving Broad and they run two.
"Re: Greg, 1451 - and I guess in the 90s Wales picked Vinnie Jonesto stop England getting him?"
James O'Riordan in the TMS inbox
1508 - SA 232-4 (75 overs)
Another good stop by Anderson at mid-wicket denies Prince. A rapidmaiden from Monty P.
"Ken 'Slasher' Mackay was a policeman in his home state ofQueensland"
Stewart Murray in Ottawa, in the TMS inbox
[There must have been a few famous cricketing policemen - thelegendary John Arlott among them - MM]
1505 - SA 232-4 (74 overs)
Prince nudges Patto for a quick single as Strauss, in at shortmid-wicket, can't pick the ball up cleanly. ABDV sees off the restof the over with some firm defensive pushes - SA lead by 29 runs.
"It's about time Vaughan tossed Collingwood the ball. Oh"
Bill, in Bristol, in the TMS inbox
1501 - SA 231-4 (73 overs)
ABDV works Monty for a single to leg, then the left-armer hasPrince in a little more trouble when he gives one delivery a littlemore air. Prince pushes and runs a single to Vaughan, not thequickest in the field - I'm sure they wouldn't risk it to Park.
1459 - SA 229-4 (72 overs)
Pattinson replaces the out-of-sorts Broad, and nearly lucks outwhen ABDV chips one to leg, but it lands safely and they run asingle. An even looser delivery, begging to be hit, is firmlypulled to the mid-wicket boundary by Prince.
"Should I stay glued to the computer while the South Africans nowpile on the runs, or watch on TV the wind test the golfers' skillsat the Open, or potter in the garden deadheading the bloomingdaisies, etc?"
Bruce, Ontario, Canada, in the TMS inbox
1455 - SA 224-4 (71 overs)
Right, 10 overs until England can take the second new ball. Princedabs a single to take his score to 71, then ABDV tries to take aquick single to Park at mid-off, the Durham man demolishes thestumps with a rapid throw (waking the crowd up) but ABDV had madehis ground. Meanwhile, Paul Grunill has dipped into the BBC Sportwebsite archives and found a few "cricketers with strange jobs"...
Dominic Hewson: Tree surgeon
Anurag Singh: Solicitor
David Masters: Hod-carrier

1451 - SA 222-4 (70 overs)
Prince has a toothy grin on his face as he blasts Broad through thecovers, and the lumbering Pattinson can't prevent the four. Asingle to the cover boundary allows sub fielder Garry Park anothertouch of the ball. ABDV gets lucky as a nick sails down to thirdman for four, and the pair continue to milk Broad for plenty ofruns.
"Here's a cynical thought re: Pattinson - the England selectorshave selected him to prevent him ever playing for Australia,because no Aussie side would select someone who'd once played forEngland. (Not that the Aussies need him)"
Greg in the TMS inbox
1445 - SA 211-4 (69 overs)
A rapid maiden from Monty to ABDV - the first for the Northantstwirler.