CRICKET FIRST TEST - DAY TWO:BRILLIANTLY, RELENTLESSLY and at a commendable gallop, England continued to exert their authority over South Africa and delight a crowd buzzing with anticipation after the riches of the first day.
If Thursday had belonged to Kevin Pietersen, however, yesterday was the day that Ian Bell, who over the course of eight-and-a-quarter hours came within a single run of his first Test double century. It was unquestionably the finest innings of his 40-match career and put the seal on his credentials to be called a serious player.
Stuart Broad also enhanced his burgeoning reputation as a considerable all-rounder with a beautiful innings of 76 that drove home the advantage established earlier.
Silver linings have their clouds, however, for it was also the day Paul Collingwood realised that when the game kicks you it does so where it really hurts. Collingwood's dismissal for seven came from a catch to short-leg off the slow bowling of Paul Harris, not one to relish had it come via inside edge. That it missed the bat by a distance, something that somehow eluded umpire Billy Bowden, added injustice to injury. Collingwood's place might have been in jeopardy anyway, but now it would be as well to leave him out on the basis that with his sort of luck there is little point in getting out of bed.
After Bell became the seventh batsman, and first Englishman, to be dismissed for 199, a sharp return catch well taken by Harris as the batsman advanced down the pitch to hit through the on side, Michael Vaughan declared the England innings closed on 593 for eight, leaving 21 overs to have a tilt at South Africa's top order.
Twenty deliveries were all they managed before the rain that had made regular appearances in the afternoon returned with South Africa seven without loss. Already the visitors are in for a long, hard slog if they are to avoid defeat in the match, but on a featherbed England will have to work equally hard to force a win.
Of late, it has been a characteristic of the Lord's pitch to play easier as the game progresses, making it harder to dismiss a side in the fourth innings at a time when there is generally wear and tear to exploit.
Pietersen's 152, chanceless apart from the missed run-out before he had scored, and a sharp caught and bowled offered to Jaques Kallis when 133, had taken 20 minutes short of five hours with a six and 20 fours.
Guardian Service
