England takes control

Unusual Smith dismissal slows South Africa

NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) -- England on Friday cheaply dismissed South Africa's record-breaking batsman Graeme Smith for the first time in the series to take control of the third cricket test at Trent Bridge.

After England made 445 runs in its first innings, South Africa struggled to 84 for two by stumps on the second day, batting under pressure for the first time.

England dismissed openers Smith for 35 runs and Herschelle Gibbs for 19.

Jacques Rudolph and Jacques Kallis, on 11 runs apiece, will resume Saturday with a 361-run deficit and needs to score 246 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Smith, South Africa's captain, was dismissed hit-wicket by seam bowler Andrew Flintoff -- only the third time that's happened to a South African captain.

Just when Smith, 22, appeared to survive Flintoff's delivery, he trod on the stumps.

"I don't think I would have guessed that in a million years. I was unlucky," said Smith. "I am really enjoying it out there at the moment."

Smith's downfall came as a relief to England after he single-handedly destroyed the bowling in the first two tests. Smith scored 277 and 85 at Edgbaston and 259 at Lord's.

The opener took his series aggregate to a South African record 656 runs at an average of 164.

England bowlers -- and Flintoff in particular -- beat Smith more often in his 66-ball innings than they had in his three previous three.

Smith's dismissal followed that of Gibbs, who played on to a Steve Harmison delivery after a 56-run opening stand.

With batting becoming increasingly difficult on a surface where the deliveries skidded and were kept dangerously low, England was well placed to force a series-leveling win.

Smith was critical of the pitch.

"It is disappointing when the wicket plays a role in test cricket," said Smith. "You want to play on a good test wicket, and the better team wins. When the wicket on day two starts going up and down it is a bit disappointing. You expect these kind of things to happen on day four and five.

"It almost feels under prepared. It looked best to bat on the first day.

Smith said South Africa had a chance to win, though.

"We don't feel [we're] out of the game. We still can play a huge role in this test match. We will not play for a draw, we will try and win. One big partnership (and) we're back in the gam," he said.

"We realize it's going to be tough work. But we're prepared to go through."

England more than made up for its sloppy batting at Lord's and fully vindicated skipper Michael Vaughan's decision to bat first after winning the toss on Thursday.

England was humbled by an innings and 92-runs in the second test after it was bowled out for 172 on the first day.

After Mark Butcher (106) and Nasser Hussain (116) rescued the innings from an early disaster, debutant Ed Smith (64) and Alec Stewart (72) helped England prolong its first innings Friday.

England resumed the day on 296 for three and lost four wickets for 88 runs before Stewart took the momentum from South Africa in the company of the tailenders.

Dismissed for a second ball nought at Lord's, Stewart, 40, hit himself back to form with a series of boundaries against an attack that had been on the field for five sessions.

Playing his last series before retiring from international cricket at the end of the season, Stewart reached his 45th half century in his 131st test.

Resuming on 370 for six after lunch, England lost Ashley Giles for 22 and debutant James Kirtley for one.

But Stewart found a willing partner in No. 10 Steve Harmison (14) and the two put on a 32-run stand. Stewart finally holed out to Smith off leftarm spinner Paul Adams.

Medium paceman Andrew Hall returned 3-88 while there were two wickets apiece to seamers Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, and Paul Adams.

South Africa claimed three wickets in the morning session, but not before Hussain and Smith extended their overnight fourth-wicket stand to 104 runs.

Flintoff, who scored 142 runs in the defeat at Lord's, was dismissed for nought.

Hussain's hundred, the 100th by England against South Africa, included 18 fours and was scored off 251 balls. A Pollock delivery kept low to trap Hussain leg before wicket.

Smith, who replaced Anthony McGrath at No. 5 in one of England's two changes after the second test, batted fluently to hit 11 fours off 115 balls.

 

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