Durban Day 3
After experiencing two days of overcast conditions we awoke to bright sunshine and a blustery wind, so day three was looking positive for a full days play, as well as some more scantilly clad South African beauties being present with sunshine out.
I did however also awake not feeling to well, as I spent a lot of the night up with a very bad stomach, that is all I shall describe it as !! After getting ready in the morning which Greenie described as painful, I passed on breakfast and we headed off to the ground, at this point I was full off imodium tablets to hopefully counter act the stomach !!
We settled down in our seats, the morning bet was for the first four and where it would be hit too on the ground. Trott departed early to Morkel who has to be the pick of the South African bowlers, this brought KP to the wicket, a couple of overs in and KP struck the first four, through mid-wicket, I win the bet once more must be my lucky tour !!
Cook and KP then started to build a good partnership, no rash shots and picking the bad balls, it was looking positive for England as the wicket had got a bit flat following the large roller. KP then went for a sweep off of the bowling of Harris, obviously the same opinion as Greenie that he is overrated filth, he chose to sweep a straight one though and missed it ending up plum LBW. A good reference to KP becoming more of a team player is that he asked Cook whether he was out before asking for a referral, Cook told him he was plum and he trudged back to the pavilion obviously disappointed.
Colly joined Cook and they set about putting England back on course, at times it was slow going but they patiently kept the scoreboard ticking over. Cook in answer to all of his critics looked in no trouble at all, very disciplined and not being tempted outside of off stump had reached his half century confidently and was now looking to convert this into his 10th test match century.
As the ball got older the wicket seemed to get flatter and flatter, as batting seemed to get easier, perhaps the sunshine was also helping ! Without too much pressure from the bowlers and the overrated filth being delivered from spinner Harris, the partnership past 50 and then 100.
Cook having survived being given out with the aid of a referral then completed his century and acknowledged the dressing room and crowd, it was looking good for England as they were in a position to take control of the game.
Finally Cook nibbled outside off stump and got an edge behind to depart on 118, a tremendous partnership of 142 which had put England in the driving seat. So the under pressure Bell, considered by many to be still in the side, came to the crease. He immediately looked uneasy facing Morkel, he had made all of the batsmen struggle early on, but eventually got himself in and looked comfortable on the flatish track.
With the sun still out it was looking like a full days play may be gained, Colly and Bell kept the scoreboard ticking over as for the first time we passed 4 o"clock at the ground. Colly was closing in on his century when Duminy drew an edge behind and he was gone, nine runs short another 50 partnership the fourth of the innings so far.
Bell and Prior saw England through to the close of play at 5:30 a revelation with the weather we have been experiencing.
It is at this point that I admit to being very ill and falling asleep on the ground, I was particularly lucky as I was shown on the big screen and the highlights here in South Africa, my hat was covering me up, so if anyone saw that it was me !!!
