England 95 for 4 (Strauss 45) trail South Africa 441 (Kallis 149, Boje 76, Smith 74, Flintoff 4-79) by 346 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

After five sessions of fairly uneventful fare, the Cape Town Test exploded into life in the late-afternoon sunshine as South Africa struck back to leave England tottering on 95 for 4 in reply to their 441. In 14 overs England lost four wickets for 43 runs in an hour as Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock and Charl Langeveldt took full advantage of the foundations laid by Jacques Kallis’s 149 earlier in the day.Almost all the the first two sessions had belonged to Kallis, who lowered his anchor yesterday morning and never looked likely to leave harbour until he finally nibbled at one of countless balls he faced which were speared wide of his off stump. And then, just as England seemed to be on cruise control, Ntini removed Marcus Trescothick, and the three more wickets that fell in the final hour turned the match on its head.All four dismissals had the faint odour of sloppiness. Trescothick (28) started the slide, playing an uncharacteristically loose stroke, looking to work Ntini over gully, but instead diverting the ball straight to Herschelle Gibbs (52 for 1).Enter Robert Key, in good batting form according to statisticians – he has two hundreds in his last three first-class innings. However, the most recent of those was more than three and a half months ago, and like a boxer with hours in the gym but no fights, Key looked ring-rusty. He edged his first ball short of the slips and gloved his fifth, attempting to hook Shaun Pollock, to AB de Villiers for 0 (55 for 2).Michael Vaughan, who started the day in the local hospital after being struck in the nets by James Anderson, looked equally out of sorts. Twice he edged through the slips, before on 11 he nibbled and edged to give Langeveldt his first Test wicket (70 for 3). Vaughan’s footwork was uncertain, and with 64 runs in five innings so far in this series his one-day form in Zimbabwe seems a distant memory.

While Andrew Strauss, England’s answer to Kallis, stood firm at the other end there was a feeling of well-being. But in the penultimate over, he dragged Ntini into his stumps and the celebrations on the field and the silence of the large English contingent spoke volumes. He had made 45 – a virtual failure by his own remarkable form in 2004 – and in his innings he had reached 1000 Test runs (only three Englishmen – Herbert Sutcliffe, Len Hutton and Wally Hammond – have reached that milestone quicker) but that counted for nothing as he traipsed off (95 for 4).On a pitch which most pundits expected to be good and remain that way, South Africa started the day looking for a minimum of 400. That they got there, and more, was down to Kallis’s obduracy and some spirited late-order biffing from Nicky Boje (76). England’s over-rate was poor, their line was defensive, and it was hardly thrilling fare for the capacity crowd.At times in this series it has seemed that Kallis has been all that has kept South Africa’s batting from falling apart completely. After his epic innings at Durban, and gritty resistance yesterday, he was even more subdued today aside from a mid-morning flurry of strokes. He was a victim of his own success. Vaughan recognised that cramping Kallis would stem runs and add pressure on the other batsmen, and so his bowlers tried to do just that. An unappetising number of balls passed harmlessly wide of the bat, and for his part Kallis seemed content to carry on rather than to counterattack.England were just about on top until Kallis and Boje combined in an eighth-wicket stand of 104 in which, somewhat surprisingly, Boje took the lead. Much of the afternoon was what pundits described as “good old-fashioned Test cricket”. Those who had paid to watch it might have been less charitable. The sizable English contingent blamed the batsmen, the locals blamed the bowlers. At least the bars did a healthy trade.

Boje might be No. 9 but he has pretensions to be a middle-order batsman, with some justification as he has two one-day international hundreds to his name. He grew in confidence, and just as England’s policy of containment began to wobble, Kallis fenced at one wide of the off stump – similar to countless he had left during his innings – and was caught by Geraint Jones.But he had a tough start as Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard opened up with blistering spells. From the first ball of the day, when Harmison rapped Kallis on the gloves, the batsmen looked far less at ease than they had done. The second ball dumped Kallis on his backside, and before the half-hour was out he had been given a thorough working over.Hoggard made the breakthrough when Hashim Amla was undone by a combination of suspect footwork – once again he was stuck back in his crease – and another poor decision from Daryl Harper, who gave him leg-before when, even before the endless replays started, the ball looked to have struck the batsman far too high (261 for 5). But Kallis weathered the storm, and with an assured AB de Villiers saw off the opening salvo and gradually began to reassert some kind of order to proceedings.Kallis reached his 19th Test hundred, and his seventh in nine outings at home, and carried on remorselessly. While his concentration never wavered, his middle-order colleagues proved less adhesive. de Villiers was bowled by Ashley Giles, using his feet to convert a half-volley into a full toss which he played all round. He made 18 and until that rush of blood looked a good candidate to keep Kallis company for some time (308 for 6). Giles bowled well, extracting considerable turn.Pollock, clearly ill-at-ease with his battered and bruised hands, came and went for a brief 4, Geraint Jones catching a thin but audible edge off Andrew Flintoff (313 for 7).After Kallis departed, Ntini’s innings lasted two balls, but he would have noticed with interest the working over Langeveldt received from Flintoff and Harmison. Langeveldt was struck on the left hand trying to avoid a bouncer, a blow which left him in considerable discomfort.But Vaughan’s wicket was the ideal pain-killer for Langeveldt, and by the end of the day it was England who were in need of something to dull the senses.

As widely expected, Mudassar Nazar has been named as Kenya’s interim coach following the resignation of Andy Moles over the weekend.Mudassar has been running the KCA academy and is familiar with Kenyan cricket. “In the interim basis, we have appointed Mudassar to coach the national team besides running the academy,” said Sharad Ghai the embattled KCA chairman. “He is a former captain of Pakistan and has been coach of the Pakistan team.”Ghai would not be drawn on Moles’s departure less than a fortnight after the coach had committed his future to Kenya. “He finishes his contract with KCA on February 28,” Ghai said. “He will spend this time handing over and then proceed to take up his new post in March.”

Pakistani officials are optimistic that the controversy surrounding playing a Test at Ahmedabad will be resolved when India’s foreign minister visits Islamabad next week. of Karachi quotes a top official as saying, “The way we look at it Natwar Singh’s visit would be crucial from our point of view. Because we believe that the issue of playing at Ahmedabad should now be resolved at the meeting of the foreign ministers next week.”The Indian foreign minister is due to visit Islamabad next week to hold talks with various Pakistani officials as part of the peace initiatives between the two countries. The minister’s visit coincides with the board’s working committee meeting on February 17, which will finalise the dates and venues for Pakistan’s three-Test and five-ODI series.The Pakistan Cricket Board had expressed grave concerns about playing in Ahmedabad in West India on the basis that the place was communally sensitive, and has witnessed some of the worst clashes between Hindus and Muslims in recent times.Recently Rajeev Shukla, a member of parliament and vice-president of the cricket board, met with the Pakistani president’s security advisor, and related officials, to discuss playing in Ahmedabad.

New Zealand received some rare good injury news when Daniel Vettori was cleared to play in the final one-day match against Australia at Napier tomorrow. Vettori missed the Wellington match with back soreness but wants to return to bowl some overs before the first Test at Christchurch on Thursday.The desperate injury situation means Tana Canning will replace Nathan Asle, who has a shoulder problem, as New Zealand try to avoid a 5-0 series cleansweep. Canning, the allrounder, was a late call-up on the Australia tour last year and is expected to bat at No. 8. Born in Adelaide, Canning was a graduate of the Australia academy with Brett Lee and Michael Clarke, and will return for his first one-day match in 14 months.An Australia win would take them to a record 140 points on the ICC one-day table and force New Zealand to drop from second to third.New Zealand 1 Stephen Fleming (capt), 2 Craig Cumming, 3 Hamish Marshall, 4 James Marshall, 5 Craig McMillan, 6 Chris Cairns, 7 Brendon McCullum, 8 Tama Canning, 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Jeff Wilson, 11 Kyle Mills, 12 Lance Hamilton.

Scorecard

Victoria’s search for an outright victory to keep them in touch of defending their title was damaged by Queensland’s top four as they lined up for half-centuries at the MCG. Led by the captain Jimmy Maher with 79, Queensland pushed to 3 for 270 on an ideal batting surface to frustrate the Bushrangers, who must also deny their second-placed opponents any points.The openers Maher and Clinton Perren ensured a smooth beginning with a 116-run partnership that was ended when Perren slashed at Mick Lewis and was caught at slip for 68. Maher, who won the toss, was lbw to Ian Harvey shortly before tea and was disappointed not to convert his start after a bright display.Martin Love, who has been in horrible touch, also gave up the chance for a century when he was caught behind late in the day, and his 59 was by far his best innings of the season as he doubled his aggregate. Hand injuries have cut short his summer, but he was patient early and spent valuable time at the crease. His partnership with Shane Watson, who was unbeaten on 50, caused further trouble for Victoria. A Queensland win could seal a place in the decider with one round of matches remaining.

If you believe the rumours, Worcestershire are resigned to losing Tom Moody, their coach, at the end of the summer.Moody, 39, was interviewed last week about the position of director of the ECB academy, a position Rod Marsh will vacate in September. Given that Moody’s contract with the county expires that month, and that he has made no secret of his desire to take a national role somewhere, it is likely that he will take the job if offered it.”I’m very interested in the job,” he told The Guardian. “I understand there are several good candidates who have also been interviewed, and don’t expect to hear anything for a week or two. The job is different to what I’ve been doing at Worcester, which has been working as a team. But developing players and helping lay firm foundations for the game’s future really appeals to me.”Being linked with job sis nothing new to Moody who has been associated with a number of positions, most recently that of national coach to South Africa and India. “I’ve not heard anything about coaching India and tend to ignore these stories,” he said, “even though it’s flattering to be linked with such big jobs.”But Moody might not be the shoe-in some imagine. The Daily Telegraph flagged Peter Moores as the favourite. Widely regarded as the best English-born coach, he masterminded Sussex’s Championship title in 2003.Other candidates who have been interviewed included Mike Gatting, Kevin Shine, currently the coach at Somerset’s Academy, and Tim Boon, England’s analyst.

Musharraf’s handshake
Musharraf, bhai-bhai and corny graphics of superimposed flags have been all over the telly. We hear that Musharraf will watch the game for little more than an hour before talking shop with Manmohan Singh. Then someone says no, it’s two hours. Another says it’s 45 minutes. We give up guessing.Finally the day arrives. There are men with machine guns everywhere. They are just outside the boundary, watching the game with a passing interest in security. A man from the prime minister’s security office turns up to film the press box. Then, at ten to nine, the teams line up before the pavilion in one-day garb. The two heads of state emerge, hustled by bodyguards in dark suits. Both leaders give us their best smile and wave at us before meeting the teams. Manmohan greets the Pakistan team before Musharraf, who touches every Pakistan player at the back of the head and the shoulder. Then Musharraf says hello to the Indians and while shaking hands he holds their elbow. We think Bill Clinton mentioned he did that to express personal warmth to unfamiliar people.Then they turn to the crowds and wave happily. Such happy waves! Such dazzling smiles! They all but somersault and do a lap of honour.Like any other ground
One enters the Ferozshah Kotla imagining skeletal stands and workmen applying one last dab of paint before the spectators pour in. Gruesome images and news anchors on 24-hour news channels in the weeks preceding the game had sadistically emphasised that the stadium would be far from complete on April 17. Upon entering it we realise they were partially correct. Yes, the ground was not ready, but no, it did not appear as if the game would be affected in any way by it.What does the stadium look like? Well, the dirt has been swept under a rug. Blue cloth and advertisements hide the construction work. There are incomplete pillars wrapped by the cloth, but if you didn’t know any better, you’d have thought it was installation art: bamboo poles poke out from beneath the cloth. Three floors above the dressing-room is a packed enclosure missing a wall.Heat stroke, danger to life and advertising everywhere. This is like any other ground in India.The heavy burden of protection
With the visit and the threats by the Shiv Sena the security turn out is immense. There is the rapid-action force that mans the gates, the ordinary cops with batons that, thankfully, they aren’t using, as well as other stern-looking men armed with an assortment of weapons. They are everywhere, especially up your nose.”Pass by this bar,” shouts one cop to a crushing wave of fans attempting to enter the ground. The bar is held horizontally at a height, no, depth of about three-and-a half feet. So you have the sight of face-painted limbo dancers. Once you are past, hands of security men reach out to grab your press pass, checking its authenticity. Then come the gates, swarming with security and framed by metal detectors. A beep sounds as you walk through it. A lengthy check entails, an embarrassing pat-down follows.”Frisk everybody thoroughly, all up and down,” says a senior policeman to no one in particular. This means heavier pats from heavy-handed friskers.In view of such security, what chance does any one with evil intent have of entering the ground with, say, a banned device? “I could have brought anything in here, man,” a cheery television news reporter professes in the press box. “Those metal detectors? I just walked around them. Here, you can do anything.”A while later, after failed attempts to bring water bottles into the press box – “Sorry, water bottles are not allowed” – the cheery TV reporter returns with bottles of much needed liquid. “See? I just walked in through an entrance with no security. Boss, anything’s possible in Delhi.”American intervention
Interesting. There are Indian flags of all lengths and sizes, and there is a flutter of Pakistan green when a boundary is hit. And then there is a solitary American flag, waved wildly during a drinks break.

Ricky Ponting’s pre-series handshake of goodwill, which encourages batsmen to take the word of the fielder in close catches, has not yet been accepted by Michael Vaughan. In a gentlemanly opening to each tour, Ponting has offered the proposal to rival captains as he tries to lift the spirit of the game and chop the number of referrals to the third umpire, which are often inconclusive.Vaughan stood his ground at Adelaide in 2002-03 when Justin Langer claimed a catch on 19, but he was reprieved by the technology and went on to score 177. “We’ll be talking about it before the Ashes start,” Vaughan told . “I’m sure we’ll sit down and have a discussion. I think there’s [a match-referee’s meeting] on Tuesday. Maybe we’ll talk about it then.”The delayed decision shows the tough attitude of England under Vaughan’s captaincy, which included an unbeaten year in 2004. While Vaughan was tight-lipped about the catching issue, he said he wanted his side prepared for the first Test at Lord’s on July 21. “What is important over the next three or four weeks is that individuals play well and get some runs,” he said, “and take some wickets against Australia and gain some individual confidence.”

After weeks of speculation, it has been confirmed that Ed Smith has left Kent and joined Middlesex on a two-year contract.Smith has been a marginalised figure at Kent in recent months after it was rumoured that a group of senior players had refused to accept some of his decisions as stand-in captain. Although he was offered a new contract at the end of the summer, his move was not a surprise.Smith spent nine seasons at Canterbury, scoring 8690 first-class runs at an average of 40.79. He made three appearances for England in 2003.”Ed will be a major addition to our squad,” said Vinny Codrington, Middlesex’s chief executive. “He has joined a talented and happy side, and believes that by starting a new chapter of his career with us, that he can help us win things and push to regain his place in the England set up.”

South Africa A’s decision to bowl first, prompted by the evening dew, camegood as New Zealand A batted poorly and were rolled out for 125 on agood pitch at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom. South Africa A made easy work ofthe target, sealing the match, and with it the series, in 25.2 overs.Five batsmen failed to trouble the scorers. Matthew Bell, Gareth Hopkins,Paul Wiseman, Kerry Walmsley and Jeetan Patel all made ducks, while Matthew Sinclair could only manage 5. Playing across the line cost batsmen dear, while James Franklin was left to show the others how it should have been done. Playing down the line and down the ground, he topscored with 36 not out. Richard Sherlock (15) aided Franklin in the biggest partnership of the innings -32 for the 10th wicket.There were flashes of determination from Jamie How (20), Ross Taylor (22) and Lou Vincent (16) but on the whole nothing that would have raised any eyebrows.For South Africa Charl Willoughby pocketed three wickets while Justin Kemp deceived with his slower ball and was gifted three wickets. In addition, five leg-before decisions were given and perhaps Sherlock was unlucky.Andrew Hall would be upset with himself for driving and edging outside theoff and being dismissed cheaply. Then, clinical half centuries from van Wyk andNeil McKenzie made easy work of the small target on a pitch that played as well as it looked.SuperSport Park in Centurion hosts the third and last match of the series in a day match on Sunday, October 3.