Kevin Pietersen made an awesome 149 not out, one of the greatest innings of his life, as England fought back thrillingly
Preamble And on the third day, still nobody had a clue. This Test has an identity crisis. Is it a rain-affected draw, or a struggle for survival by England or maybe even South Africa? We'll have a much better idea after today's play. At the moment the draw seems the likeliest outcome, if only because the forecast for the weekend is appalling. And unless you're Larry David or someone who went out in flip flops and shorts on 15 October 1987, you always trust a weatherman.
Mind you, the weatherman is in danger of becoming an extinct species. As with the Countdown maths person and the short-skirt model, it's a female-dominated profession these days. Clearly beauty is a prerequisite, but there are some handsome men out there. I'd watch the weather if Brad Pitt did it, or even Jimmy Anderson. Yes, TV head honchos, this is a barely disguised come-and-get-me plea.
19th over: England 48-0 (Strauss 19, Cook 20) The weather is okay at the moment, with cloud and sun jockeying for position. Sir Ian Botham, who wasn't the worst swing bowler of all time, reckons it could swing this morning. Morkel starts around the wicket to Cook, and it's an uneventful maiden. Bit too short from Morkel.
"If Strauss hasnt taken the hint and made a start on Wiggins-style sideburns overnight," begins Keith Flett, "there could be problems in the first hour at Leeds today..."
20th over: England 48-0 (Strauss 19, Cook 20)
Verrrrrrrrrn will bowl from the other end. He starts over the wicket with a full length to Strauss, but the line isn't quite tight enough and Strauss can leave all six deliveries. No swing yet. A maiden, but in context that should be chalked up to the batting side rather than the bowling side.
21st over: England 48-0 (Strauss 19, Cook 20) Morkel ends another maiden with a sharp lifter that Cook does well to drop at his feet. Three consecutive maidens to start the day.
22nd over: England 52-0 (Strauss 23, Cook 20) There's the first bit of swing from Philander, with Strauss offering no stroke as it swerves away to the keeper. The next ball is on the pads and fiddled fine for the first boundary, and indeed the first runs, of the day.
"Following the cricket with my full attention and not at all indulging in an odd menage a trois with Triathlon and Athletics, (or is that a menage a cinq? I'm confused)," says Toby Hester. "Anyway, the weather this weekend surely proves beyond doubt how painfully short-sighted it was to make this a three match series – if this turns into a drab draw, there will be no opportunity for ebb at all, let alone flow. Still grumpy – did we really need that one-day series with the Aussies?" This, this and, just to clarify, this. It feels like the series is just warming up, yet in three hours it will be at its halfway point.
23rd over: England 60-0 (Strauss 24, Cook 23) Cook pulls Morkel for three, although there might have been a run-out chance had Steyn at midwicket picked the ball up rather than dive over it. The next ball is a nasty lifter that hits Strauss on the glove and falls short of gully, and then Morkel swings a short ball down the leg side for four byes.
"Morning Rob! All these OBOs, HBH, MBMs, Olympics Live New and Improved MBMs are all well and good, but surely I can't be the only one wondering if the Guardian will be MBM covering the Glorious Glasgow Rangers' heroic, Rebel Alliance style comeback in the Mickey McMouse Diddy League 3?" says Ryan Dunne. "Come on, you guys should be all about the When Saturday Comes reading, trendy band you've never heard of, DJ Pat Nevin idolising, authentic hipster joys of the lower leagues!" The long answer is 'no'. At least I don't think so. I doubt we have the resources. Poor Tom Lutz hasn't left the office since May.
24th over: England 61-0 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 24, Cook 24) Hardly any emails. There's only one thing for it: Alex Netherton's shopping list. Nesquik? Clumping cat litter? Limes, So Organic?
Product and Price List:
1 x Sainsbury's West Country Farmhouse Mature Cheddar, Taste the Difference 400g - Total Price GBP 4.15
1 x Sainsbury's Parmigiano Reggiano 200g - Total Price GBP 3.40
2 x Sainsbury's Ultimate Oak Smoked Bacon, Taste the Difference 220g - Total Price GBP 5.00
2 x Rachel's Organic Low Fat Raspberry Yogurt 450g - Total Price GBP 3.00
2 x Sainsbury's Jazz Apple Bag Minimum x6 - Total Price GBP 4.00
1 x Sainsbury's Limes, So Organic x4 - Total Price GBP 1.50
1 x Sainsbury's Fresh Lemongrass Sticks x2 - Total Price GBP 0.80
1 x Sainsbury's Raw King Prawns 180g - Total Price GBP 3.29
2 x Pride Coconut Milk 400g - Total Price GBP 1.98
3 x Sainsbury's Clumping Cat Litter Natural Clay 8L - Total Price GBP 6.54
1 x Sainsbury's Wholemeal Muffins x6 - Total Price GBP 0.95
1 x Sainsbury's Multi-Seeded Wholemeal Loaf, Taste the Difference 800g - Total Price GBP 1.25
1 x Robinsons Squash Summer Fruits, No Added Sugar 1L - Total Price GBP 1.39
1 x Robinsons Lemon Squash, No Added Sugar 1L - Total Price GBP 1.39
1 x Sainsbury's Root Ginger (loose) - Total Price GBP 0.27
1 x Sainsbury's Recycled Big Roll Toilet Tissue 8X360 Sheets - Total Price GBP 5.20
1 x Sainsbury's Laundry Gel Non Biological 630ml (21 Washes) - Total Price GBP 2.90
1 x E45 Moisturising Lotion 500ml - Total Price GBP 6.35
2 x Original Source Lime Shower 250ml - Total Price GBP 4.40
1 x Sainsbury's Totalcare Family Toothbrush x4 - Total Price GBP 0.67
3 x Colgate MaxFresh Cool Mint Toothpaste 100ml - Total Price GBP 3.40
2 x Listerine Mouthwash, Cool Mint 500ml - Total Price GBP 6.60
1 x De Cecco Taglierini Matassine 250g - Total Price GBP 1.89
1 x De Cecco Spaghetti 500g - Total Price GBP 1.55
2 x Sainsbury's Chick Peas In Water 410g - Total Price GBP 1.38
1 x Sainsbury's Wholemeal Rolls x6 - Total Price GBP 0.70
1 x Sainsbury's British Corn Fed Whole Chicken (approx 1.55kg) - Total Price GBP 6.12
1 x Sainsbury's Clementines x6 - Total Price GBP 1.50
5 x Sainsbury's Large Onions (loose) - Total Price GBP 0.81
6 x Sainsbury's Loose Fairtrade Bananas - Total Price GBP 0.65
1 x Nesquik Milkshake Mix, Chocolate 500g - Total Price GBP 2.99
2 x Sainsbury's British Fresh Milk, Semi Skimmed 3.4L (6 pint) - Total Price GBP 3.48
1 x Seasoned Pioneers Thai Shrimp Paste 44g - Total Price GBP 1.99
1 x Wahaca Chipotle Chile Sauce 150ml - Total Price GBP 1.99
1 x Sainsbury's Mixed Peppers x3 - Total Price GBP 1.65
2 x Sainsbury's British Beef Mince 500g - Total Price GBP 5.40
1 x Birds Eye Cod 100% Fish Fillet Fingers x30 840g - Total Price GBP 4.99
1 x Sainsbury's Free Range Large Woodland Eggs x12 - Total Price GBP 2.78
1 x Sainsbury's Tuna Chunks, in Brine 185g - Total Price GBP 1.09
1 x Sainsbury's Skipjack Tuna Chunks In Oil 4x185g - Total Price GBP 3.99
2 x Whole Earth Peanut Butter, Crunchy 454g - Total Price GBP 6.38
25th over: England 65-0 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 28, Cook 24) On Twitter, Mike Selvey reckons the rain is coming. Bah. Strauss pulls Morkel firmly for four. This is an important period for Strauss, who has been dismissed a lot in the 20s and 30s in recent times.
"Fletcher's remark on sideburns for Strauss (19th over) points up the difficulty of matching hirsute styles," says John Starbuck. "As he's losing it on top, he could well develop more fuzz further below, but he'll have to be careful or he'll end up looking like a Disney-style dwarf. Speaking as a non-shaver myself, I reckon I can still just about manage the two, especially as it's all melding into grey, which does help."
WICKET! England 65-1 (Cook LBW b Philander 24) Cook has been given out LBW. Did it pitch outside leg? He's going to review it. I think he's in trouble here. He was only half forward as he pushed defensively around his pad at a straight delivery from over the wicket, and the only thing that can save him if it pitched outside leg stump. It didn't. He's gone! It pitched on leg stump and was hitting middle two thirds of the way up.
26th over: England 65-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 28, Trott 0) An interesting stat from Nasser on Sky. In the last 12 Tests Jonathan Trott averages 32. "Covering any Scottish fitba, especially diddy leagues, is pretty straightforward and shouldn't tax your resources," says Robin Hazlehurst. "Just set an auto-thingy app to update it with 'meh' every few minutes for an hour and a half and that should pretty much do the job." Please direct all abuse to robin.hazlehurst.obo@guardian.co.uk.
27th over: England 69-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 28, Trott 0) Morkel beats Strauss with a beastly seaming lifter from around the wicket. The Guardian office breaks into applause for Morkel's excellence, or the gold that GB have just won in the rowing. Another short ball hits Strauss on the bicep before flying away for four arm-byes. Morkel is in a nice rhythm although, as the chaps have just said on Sky, Strauss should be looking to leave pretty much everything on length here.
"That shopping list," says Paul Jaines. "No cheap booze. No Pot Noodles. Pathetic effort." Yes, ladies, I'm afraid to say he is married.
28th over: England 74-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 28, Trott 5) Trott gets off the mark with his trademark stroke, the clip through midwicket for four. Then Philander moves around the wicket to Strauss. No dice, soldier. "Woe, woe, woes," says Natalie Beckell, possibly in reaction to the news that Alex Netherton is married. "England all out by end of the day, I think. SA are just a better team, unfortunately..."
29th over: England 74-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 28, Trott 5) With a right-hander at the crease, Dale Steyn comes on for Morne Morkel. Another very good stat from the Sky chaps: Trott has a head-to-head average of just 9.00 against Steyn in Tests. Trott is beaten by a peach and then gets a very thick edge along the floor to point. An excellent maiden. A little bit of raining has started falling at Headingley.
30th over: England 80-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 33, Trott 6) Philander continues around the wicket to Strauss, who drives him beautifully through extra cover for four. He's played well in this innings although, as we've said, getting a start has not been a problem for him in the last year. His main concern has been getting out of the taut twenties and thirties. A single brings Trott on strike, and he edges a good one this far short of Smith at first slip. It was almost on the half volley. That has happened to Smith twice in this innings, and you wonder whether the slips should come up a bit.
RAIN STOPS PLAY. 30.2 overs: England 80-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 33, Trott 6) All of a sudden it's pelting down at Headingley, and the groundstaff are frantically earning their crust. I doubt we'll see any more play before lunch. But please keep pressing F5 just in case!
11.56am "Shopping list," says Michael Anderson. "Strong line-up – bulk-buying of fish fingers a parental masterstroke – but let down by a weak tail. Tuna in oil is a huge error of judgement, while Whole Earth PB is senseless middle-class masochism, devoid of taste and impossible to spread on anything softer than a burnt crust. I am sat in Calais Frethun eurostar station waiting 9 hours for my evening train. Found yesterday's sports section. It's all gone bloody Olympics. Come on England etc."
11.58am "You wanted men to do the weather for you, maybe some cricket commentators could moonlight," says Robin Hazlehurst. "Boycott: 'Call that rain? My mother could chase them clouds away with a stick of rhubarb'. Botham: 'If it's going to rain like that you have to have a fourth umbrella in'. Er, etc."
12.07pm "Whole Earth," says Alex Netherton. "I bought it under the impression it doesn't have palm oil in. It does. Never again will I make this mistake."
12.14pm It's still pelting down. There's more chance of a GB medal than there is of play before lunch.
12.17pm This is great, some rare footage of Sir Viv and Brian Lara batting together.
12.19pm Oh my, look at the state of this.
12.20pm Sky are showing highlights of the 22 off one ball farce at the 1992 World Cup. Remember the man in the crowd, who went through 94 different emotions in about two minutes? I wonder what he's doing now.
12.28pm The umpires have brought lunch forward to 12.30pm, so we can theoretically resume at 1.10pm. It has stopped raining so that's not impossible.
LUNCH
1.01pm "No condoms this time, Netherton?" says Mac Millings. "I do hope it's because you're not getting any. And even if it just means you're trying for an End-Times Sign/Baby Netherton, then good, because that guarantees one not getting any for a long time. Or so I've heard."
1.11pm Play will restart at 1.30pm.
31st over: England 80-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 33, Trott 6) There are 78.4 overs still to bowl today, and play can go on until 7.30pm tonight. Dale Steyn bowls the last four balls of his sixth over to Trott, who offers nothing but defence. It's a 100-minute maiden.
"Millings is letting on more than he should," writes Mrs Millings Robin Hazlehurst. "It takes two to make a baby, so if '[having a baby] guarantees one not getting any for a long time', what is the other one up to? Is there something that Mrs Millings should know? Or possibly that Mr Millings should know?"
32nd over: England 84-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 37, Trott 6) Strauss has driven well in this innings, and does so again to the cover fence when Morkel overpitches a fraction. "Why are batsmen who spin, such as KP, coming on for a twirl, or fiddle, but never actual bowlers? I can't really think of an all rounder who spins. Even Hick was a part timer. I realise that both have woeful Test bowling figures, but so would Cook if he were batting No11. Are decent spinners just not like real cricketers?" There have been a few (Aubrey Faulkner, Richie Benaud, Vinoo Mankad; Tony Greig and Garry Sobers bowled spin occasionally) but it's true that 92.471235 percent of allrounders are quicks. No idea why.
33rd over: England 85-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 37, Trott 6) A poor over from Steyn, too wide to Strauss from around the wicket. "Go on Rob, map us out a victory scenario to set up a clincher in NW8," says Jack Pitt-Brooke. "How's this? All out and level by lunch on Sunday. Quick wickets tomorrow night, finish them off Monday morning then chase 220 in two and a half sessions. Fair enough??" This might be a relevant precedent. In the 21st century the third innings has often proved tricky – DON'T MENTION ADELAIDE – but for England thoughts of victory are a fair way off. Just stick in the game and see what happens.
34th over: England 85-1 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Strauss 37, Trott 6) A maiden from Morkel to Trott. Tea will be at 4pm. "Doesn't Afridi qualify as an allrounder who spins?" says Cheri Powers. Does he still bat? But yes, fair point. Wilfred Rhodes is another. There are a few. You can still find 'em. But the greatest allrounders (Sobers, Miller, Botham, Kapil, Imran, Kallis, Hadlee, Greig, Procter. and so on) have been quicks (most of the time in the case of Greig and Sobers)
WICKET! England 85-2 (Strauss c de Villiers b Steyn 37) All that talk of Morne Morkel v Andrew Strauss, and it's Dale Steyn who picks him up. I actually thought it was Morkel at first. It was a good delivery from around the wicket, just short of a length and with an excellent line that tempted Strauss towards the flame even though he didn't have to play. The result was the thinnest of edges through to AB de Villiers.
35th over: England 85-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 6, Pietersen 0) Another nothing score for Strauss. "There are lots of spinning all-rounders in one day cricket," says Gary Naylor of his beloved David Hussey, "but it's hard in Test cricket to expect someone to deliver figures like 35-12-100-2 and then bat at 6. There are, of course, lots of spinners who bat a bit at 8 or so, with Kumble and Warne just the most obvious. Some, like Shahid Afridi and Daniel Vettori appear to choose whether to bat and bowl a bit, or bowl and bat a bit, depending on form / balance of the side / alignment of the planets etc." Good point. Vettori's batting improvement down the years has been staggering. In his first 40 Tests he averaged 16; in his last 40 he averages 37.
36th over: England 89-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 10, Pietersen 0) A good spot from Bumble on Sky. The only English-born person on the field at the moment is ... the umpire Steve Davis. We had this when England played South Africa in the 2010 World T20 as well. Morkel digs in a short ball that Trott, jumping over to the off side, flicks one just wide of the leaping de Villiers for four. England are living a wee bit dangerously just now.
"Bugger cowardice," says Harry Tuttle. "Storms forecast in South Yorks between three and five. The rain could stop us watching a real classic, here. It's an utter crime this is not a five-Test series, and I struggle to believe the dosh made from the one-dayers would rival the impact of England going toe-to-toe in a World's Best contest. How can Test matches survive when they remain so
closely tied to the Pom-Aus rivalry?"
37th over: England 97-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 10, Pietersen 8) Pietersen gets off the mark with a vicious pull off Steyn that beats the man at deep square leg. The next ball is short again and Pietersen gloves a pull down the leg side for four more. "Bit of macho stuff coming in," says Bumble. This is putting the Test in testosterone.
"While my job (31st over) may have been, according to Mrs. Millings, 'easy, quick, and successful long-term, if unsatisfying short-term', and while it does indeed, take two to make a baby, it only takes one to make the gravy," announces Mac Millings. "Give me a lockable room and a minute-and-a-half with a YouTube clip of the Best of David Cronenberg, and you can assure Mr. Hazlehurst that I'll be just fine."
38th over: England 98-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 11, Pietersen 8) "You can't judge a spinner's effectiveness simply by the numbers of overs bowled, though admittedly it is a consideration," says John Starbuck. "Far more formidable is the spinner who comes on occasionally as a reliable partnership breaker. Brian Close was really good at that. I remember him, as captain, getting impatient with his bowlers' inability to take the wicket of an intractable batsman (against India at Trent Bridge, Pataudi, I think) and showed them how to do it in very short order." That's interesting. That's interesting, man. The partnership-breaking spinner feels like an even rarer species (though may not be in reality, I don't know). We tend to think of them as medium pacers, Dougie Walters being the main example of course. That'd be a good Joy of Six actually.
39th over: England 105-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 15, Pietersen 13) Pietersen is going after Steyn here and smashes another short ball for four, this time through the covers. If you could choose one contest in world cricket right now, Pietersen v Steyn would be a serious contender. You can smell the masculinity from here.
40th over: England 112-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 20, Pietersen 13) Bread y butter for Trott, a clip through midwicket for four off Morkel. "Following on the android app and it says no more updates after 1.11pm," says Alistair M. "Is everybody dead?" Inside, very much so, but I'm still struggling on with the OBO just for you.
41st over: England 114-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 21, Pietersen 14) Jacques Kallis replaces Dale Steyn (10-4-30-1). A quiet over yields precisely 2.0 runs. "Michael Clarke's a partnership breaker now, isn't he?" says Harry Tuttle. Yes I suppose so, although can you be known as a partnership-breaker and take six for nine in a Test?
42nd over: England 114-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 21, Pietersen 14) It's a double bowling change for South Africa, with Vernon Philander replacing Morne Morkel (15-6-32-0). He starts with around a fifth-stump line to Pietersen, who is content to play out a maiden.
"Until the last few days I thought I was quite good at multi-sport following, but this is getting ridiculous!" writes Clare Davies. "I can't remember if there was any Test cricket during the last Olympics, but at least then there were only two channels of BBC sport on the telly. How on earth can anyone keep up with the multitude of channels and internet coverage? Still at least I'm one sport down now, and the cycling is finished til this evening. Time to multi-task on overdue housework and cricket I suppose."
43rd over: England 118-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 21, Pietersen 14) Kallis strays onto the pads of Trott, with the ball scuttling away for four. This is such an important little spell in the match. I wonder how long South Africa will wait before turning to Imran Tahir.
"I misread the 11:56 entry and thought it was from Michael Atherton," says Tom Van der Gucht. "I'd never had him down as a fish finger eater but then again I remember Tony Blair enjoying Fish Finger sarnies in 'The Queen' so perhaps I shouldn't write off these undervalued delicacies. I had a Peter Baynham-ish university friend whose favourite meal consisted of microwaved potatoes along with a can of beans mixed with a can of tuna (I can't recall whether he used the sunflower oil or brine variety, although I suspect he went for economy 'Flakes' option). He used to refer to this meal as 'Top Scram!' but then again he kept his toenail clippings in a jar, which he occasionally tried to make you sniff, so his judgement could be called into question." A friend, eh? A friend.
44th over: England 118-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 21, Pietersen 14) The umpires have changed the ball, which must have gone out of shape. The first delivery with the replacement ball swings away from Pietersen, who copies the old Michael Vaughan hand signal to confirm that, yes, it is swinging. A maiden, with everything outside Pietersen's off stump.
"I've been to Headingley loads of times and never realised there is a second-hand book stand at the south end of the Western Terrace," says Matthew Scott. "Loads of cricket books. Just bought a replacement Art Of Captaincy. Lovely stuff." The cricket section of second-hand bookstores might make the list of Top 10 Greatest Things Ever. Although the smell sometimes gives me a headache.
45th over: England 123-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 26, Pietersen 14) A lucky escape for Trott, who edges a beauty from Kallis over the top of first slip of four. That lifted freakishly from a full length and took the shoulder of the bat before looping over Graeme Smith. The next ball finds the edge too but falls short of second slip. This replacement ball looks like a good one for South Africa.
46th over: England 123-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 26, Pietersen 14) This is definitely swinging now, although Philander hasn't got his line right yet. Trott doesn't need to play at a single delivery in that over, and so it's a maiden.
47th over: England 124-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 26, Pietersen 15) One from Kallis's over. Drinks.
48th over: England 125-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 26, Pietersen 16) "Fish finger sandwiches are not to be sniffed at," says Michael Anderson. "White bread, mayo, spinach, squeeze of lemon juice, salt n pepper, voila. Potato waffle an optional extra to make it, you know, a whole meal of food. You can also now find battered (rather than breaded) fingers, which are a whole different kettle." You had me at 'fish'.
49th over: England 131-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 26, Pietersen 21) Here comes Imran Tahir in place of Kallis (7-3-9-0). Spinners haven't had that much joy at Headingley in the last 25 years, but there was big turn for Kevin Pietersen yesterday. KP rocks back to belabour Tahir's first ball through the covers for four.
50th over: England 136-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 30, Pietersen 22) Trott hasn't been completely convincing in this innings. He's just had another escape, edging Philander right through the vacant fourth-slip area for a boundary.
"Second hand bookstores, Rob," begins Simon McMahon. "At a cricket ground. Now that's really something. In this day and age of 24-hour media, I refuse to believe that there's not a single person alive whose life couldn't be improved by just spending a bit of time in a second-hand bookshop. Kind regards, JR Hartley."
51st over: England 142-2 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Trott 35, Pietersen 23) Trott clatters Tahir full toss for four, although it was in the air and not far of the diving substitute Faf du Plessis at midwicket. There hasn't been any notable turn for Tahir as yet.
WICKET! England 142-3 (Trott c Smith b Steyn 35) Dale Steyn does it again! He is such a champion. How many times do South Africa turn to him to break a burgeoning partnership? He so rarely lets them down and he has struck here with the third ball of a new spell. It was a poor stroke from Trott mind you, an almost absent-minded cut at a ball that was a bit too full for the shot and went straight off the edge to first slip, where Graeme Smith took a very good low catch to his left.
52nd over: England 144-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 23, Bell 2) Three England batsmen have got it and got out. Perhaps that reflects a pitch on which you are never truly in. Which would make Alviro Petersen's performance even more remarkable.
53rd over: England 153-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 24, Bell 10) Almost another wicket for South Africa. Bell, pushing defensively outside the line, inside edges Tahir between his legs for a couple. That could easily have gone back onto the stumps. He shows his considerable class later in the over, however, skipping down the track to drive sweetly over long on for six. That shot was so gorgeous that it may as well have had an Instagrammed picture of Zooey Deschanel attached to it.
"Readers in the north would do well to look at Paramount Books in Manchester's Northern Quarter, if only because it impressively manages to avoid being horribly cloying despite being quaint enough that it may as well have an Instagrammed picture of Zooey Deschanel above the door," says Dan Lucas. "I also managed to get an original copy of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' on vinyl there for £20." On the subject of all things Zooey, has anyone watched New Girl? I really want to watch it and like it but have a horrible feeling it could be absolutely terrible.
54th over: England 159-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 30, Bell 10) A regal stroke from Pietersen, who blitzes a Steyn outswinger through extra cover for four. The shot of the day so far. Pietersen has really gone for Steyn, hitting him for 19 off 17 balls as against 11 from 41 against everyone else. It's a lovely contest, this, and Steyn responds with a beauty that goes past the edge.
55th over: England 160-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 30, Bell 10) Morkel comes on for Tahir. Bell fresh airs a cut stroke at a ball that starts wide and swings into the hands of first slip.
"I can tell I am reading the Guardian," sniffs Duncan Smith. "Spinach, lemon juice? It's a fish finger sandwich! Cheap fish fingers, smidgen of butter, soft white bread, ketchup if you're into such depravity. It's meant to be a guilty pleasure, not a gourmet meal!" You can pare it down even more I reckon. Who needs butter? Even the bread seems a bit extravagant.
56th over: England 161-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 31, Bell 10) Pietersen is drawn towards another gorgeous outswinger from Steyn that curves past the edge. An excellent over. "Dale Steyn is terrific, isn't he?" coos Neill Brown. "Just before the last wicket, my laptop malfunctioned to go into a very pixelated close-up of his bowling action: it still looked gorgeous to me. I know us England fans are in a moderate state of despair right now but we should all remember how horrible things were 15-20 years ago. At least losing is no longer soundtracked by this sort of muck... People actually bought that record. Awful, I need to have another drink."
57th over: England 165-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 35, Bell 10) Morkel hasn't yet got it right in this spell. Pietersen waves another glorious extra-cover drive for four. Shaun Pollock and Mikey Holding think Morkel is bowling from the wrong end. "Personally," says John Starbuck, "I can do without the fish fingers."
58th over: England 165-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 35, Bell 10) Bell edges a very full, straight awayswinger from Steyn just short of the cordon. Steyn is bowling wonderfully here, oozing controlled menace, and Bell nods respectfully towards him after that delivery. A maiden. "New Girl is actually surprisingly good," writes Lawrence Aggleton. "It does have a bit of a whiff of the 'kooky' about it, but gets funnier as the season goes along. Plus, Zooey Deschanel doing a roadrunner impression to try and scare off a coyote is reasonable genius."
59th over: England 168-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 38, Bell 10) An excellent short ball from Morkel prompts an uncomfortable pull for two from Pietersen, who ultimately did well to control the shot because he wasn't looking at the ball. "I feel like I should at some point get around to watching New Girl, purely because I made my girlfriend get into Breaking Bad," says Dan Lucas. "It's not really her kind of thing, so I guess I owe her." You mean your girlfriend has a boyfriend? (Link contains the language of the bigger boy.)
60th over: England 172-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 42, Bell 10) This is beautiful from Steyn. Having bowled outswinger after outswinger after outswinger, he cuts Pietersen in half with a delivery that jags back off the pitch. He's too straight later in the over, perhaps trying for a magic ball, and Pietersen pings him handsomely through midwicket for four. He is batting extremely well. "Steyn bowling to KP and Bell," says SB Tang. "This is Test cricket at its finest." Preach on. It's been a superb half hour or so.
61st over: England 173-3 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 42, Bell 11) With 11 minutes to tea, Imran Tahir replaces Morne Morkel. Bell cuts through Morkel at backward point for a single.
WICKET! England 173-4 (Bell c Smith b Kallis 11) Another inspired bowling change from Graeme Smith! Jacques Kallis, who has such a good record on this ground, has struck with his second ball. It was an awful shot from Ian Bell, who chased a wide outswinger with an angled bat and edged it gently into the hands of Smith at first slip. If KP played a shot like that he'd be slaughtered. The new batsman James Taylor is going to have an interesting seven minutes before tea.
62nd over: England 178-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 42, Taylor 0) Taylor, who looks devilishly cool in his Ayrtek helmet, is beaten by his first ball, defends the second solidly and watches the third bounce over him and AB de Villiers for five wides. That might have been a good bouncer to a 7ft 2ins batsman; it wasn't a good bouncer to James Taylor.
63rd over: England 183-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 43, Taylor 4) In the Duncan Fletcher years, specialist English batsmen did incredibly well on debut. It hasn't been quite so good since then, despite hundreds for Trott and Prior. That said, it's nowhere near as bad as during the 1990s, when a 20 on debut meant you were in for life. aylor gets off the mark with a pleasant off drive for four off the bowling of Tahir. He'll be back after tea, because that's the end of a lovely session of Test cricket. South Africa are still on top, but not by that much. See you in 10 minutes for an extended evening session.
TEA
4.17pm Thanks to Scott Murray, who has just given me two Nurofen to shove down my poorly throat, I might just get through this evening session. There are still 46 overs to bowl, and play can go until 7.30pm if necessary. All I need now is a caffeine drip, or some booze.
64th over: England 187-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 47, Taylor 4) Dale Steyn will have another quick burst after tea, presumably with James Taylor in mind. For now it's KP on strike and the first ball brings a strangled LBW shout. It was too high. I'm useless at judging height on live LBW appeals and instinctively said 'close'. It wasn't. Actually, maybe it was: Hawkeye shows it would have bothered the top of the bails. Pietersen drives the last ball handsomely down the ground for four. In other news, not out!
65th over: England 187-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 47, Taylor 4) Morne Morkel is on in place of Imran Tahir. There are three slips and a backward short leg for Taylor, who is beaten by a lovely full-length delivery that straightens just enough off the seam. That aside he defends comfortably and it's a maiden.
66th over: England 192-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 52, Taylor 4) Steyn drops short and Pietersen savages a pull through midwicket for four. That takes him to a seriously good half-century from 90 balls. He has a good record on this ground, with an average of 97 from four Tests. Of those who have played five innings here, only three batsmen have a higher average. Yes, Bradman is top of the list. A single brings Taylor on strike, and he survives his first trial by Steyn.
67th over: England 201-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 61, Taylor 4) Morkel has decided to bomb Pietersen. He's going around the wicket with two men out – and Pietersen has been dropped! He pushed a short ball off the body and straight to Amla at short leg, who couldn't react in time. That was very similar to the chance offered by Mike Atherton on 99 during his 185 not out. The next ball is short again and Pietersen slaughters it through midwicket for four. He does exactly the same to the following delivery, even bigger this time. That was a storming blow that almost went for six. He's getting his front leg out the way and just teeing off. I'm not sure South Africa will mind that, though. They need Pietersen and this is a risk worth taking for two or three overs.
"Taylor's leaving judiciously," says SB Tang. "Always a good sign for a Test debutant." He looks very calm as well.
68th over: England 209-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 69, Taylor 4) This is glorious batting from Pietersen. Steyn puts one in the slot outside off stump and Pietersen drives it on the up between mid off and extra cover for four. That was simply stunning. He makes it four boundaries from six deliveries with a mighty slap over backward point. Contempt. The enormous pleasure of watching him back like this does come with the fear of him getting out, but what the hell. The danger is part of the thrill, and this is exhilarating stuff.
"Afternoon, Rob dearest," says Phil Sawyer. "Sorry to hear you're feeling poorly. Anyway, I just got back from shopping. My shopping list? An animated Batman DVD and a bottle of vodka. Yes, I am available, ladies. Form an orderly one..."
69th over: England 209-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 69, Taylor 4) Taylor has a nibble about a beautiful swinging short ball from Morkel that snakes past the edge. A maiden. This is fantastic Test cricket. The halfway point of the series, a kid on debut at one end, a genius on one at the other, the world's best fast bowler and his lieutenant going to work.
70th over: England 213-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 70, Taylor 6) Graeme Smith decides to sex things down a touch by replacing Steyn with Philander. Taylor softens his hands enough to ensure an edge falls just short of the slips.
71st over: England 217-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 74, Taylor 6) Smith likes his double bowling changes, and here comes Kallis for Morkel. Pietersen walks down the track and across to play a remarkable chip past midwicket for four. Something's happening here. Whatever you're doing, stop and find somewhere with Sky on, because a genius is at work. He might get out next ball – that's the game with KP – but at the moment he is playing magnificently.
72nd over: England 217-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 74, Taylor 6) Another edge from Taylor off Philander, again played with soft hands and bouncing well short of slip. He follows a wide one later in the over and is beaten. Taylor looks reasonably solid defensively, although he hasn't worked out any scoring options yet. There have been just two scoring strokes in 35 balls, a drive for four off Tahir and an edge that sneaked through the slips. From a team point of view that's not a problem, as KP is giving the scoreboard a serious workover, but he will want the oxygen of runs.
73rd over: England 224-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 76, Taylor 11) Tahir comes on for Kallis, a slight surprise as Kallis bowled just one over. A poor over includes three full tosses, the last of which is flicked nicely for four by Taylor.
74th over: England 237-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 84, Taylor 11) Ah, Kallis has changed ends, so presumably Philander will do the same. Pietersen sends another pull screaming through square leg for a one-bounce four. A much shorter delivery from Kallis bounces over de Villiers for five wides. Pietersen makes it 13 from the over with another outrageous shot, walking down the track to whip-drive the ball back whence it came for four. This is astonishing batting.
75th over: England 240-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 85, Taylor 13) Tahir continues in fact, and moves around the wicket to Pietersen. A full toss is flicked for a single, which takes KP to 7000 runs. He is the eighth Englishman to reach that milestone, and the fastest in Test history to do so it in terms of time: seven years and 14 days. That, of course, is partially down to the fact we play so many more Tests these days, but he's actually the fastest by over a year, with Graeme Smith in second. It's been an irresistible white-knuckle ride from the moment he marched out at Lord's for his debut innings with a daft haircut and dumped Glenn McGrath back over his head for six. We'll sure miss him when he's gone.
"I am sorry (71st over) but the imperatives down here in Devon are different," says Angus Doulton. "I am about to go off to set out a row of kale, followed by one of cauli, followed by some rather late leeks and maybe the odd cabbage to fill up the gaps where the damn slugs/caterpillars etc etc. Should there be a glut later in the season I'll be glad to supply you but, in the meanwhile, please keep woffling on so I can catch up later (and don't go and talk KP out will you). Actually, assuming we will pass the follow-on with a wicket or two in hand your view on what should happen next will also be needed." Just keep playing and see where they are at the close. It's important England don't think too far ahead. They could still be all out for 300.
76th over: England 242-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 85, Taylor 14) James Taylor has had the best seat in the house for this Pietersen masterclass. He's quietly building his innings and has been at the crease for over an hour now. When Kallis gets a bit of extra bounce outside off stump, Taylor does well to get on top of the ball and drop it at his feet.
77th over: England 246-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 87, Taylor 15) Pietersen got out just before the second new ball at The Oval, which will surely be on his mind here. He will still want to go after Tahir if possible, however, and drives a googly high over midwicket for two. For a second it looked like he might be in trouble as long on and deep midwicket converged but it landed safely between them.
78th over: England 248-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 88, Taylor 16) "Why do you insist on calling cuss words beloved of little boys things like 'adult gentleman's language' is beyond me," says Phil Podolsky. "I've always thought the language of adults comprises words like 'balustrade', 'cross-pollination' and 'thou still unravished bride of quietness'..."
79th over: England 253-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 91, Taylor 18) "This is the danger over for me" says Nasser Hussain as KP prepares to face Tahir for the last time before the second new ball. Pietersen plays it straight, driving three down the ground to move to 91. I desperately hope there's no brainfade in the nineties. This performance deserves a century.
80th over: England 258-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 95, Taylor 19) JP Duminy will bowl six balls of offspin before the second new ball, a smart move that they hope will tempt Pietersen into something reckless. He paddles a couple to move to 94, one hit away and with three balls left in the over. Don't do it. Please don't do it. He doesn't do it, instead settling for a single to deep mid off. Vernon Philander will take the first over with the new ball. The next 90 minutes are huge and could ultimately decide the game. Buckle up buttercup. "I've learned," says Niall Mullen, "that adult language is 'bleed the radiator', 'it's your turn to change his nappy' and 'pick up your socks'."
WHAT AN AWESOME CENTURY FROM KEVIN PIETERSEN! 81st over: England 263-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 100, Taylor 19) Pietersen slams a short ball through the covers for four to move to 99 – and there it is! KP has made a spectacular hundred! He taps Philander to leg and charges down the wicket, punching the air with delight before he has reached the non-striker's end. This is one of the greatest innings he has ever played, right there with The Oval 2005, Lord's 2007 and Colombo 2012. Since tea in particular, he has batted like a lord. As you get older and used to life in sports journalism, you tend not to feel your spine shiver very often, but my body is powerless to resist this innings. It almost brings a lump to the throat. It's his 21st Test century, one short of the England record. He has faced 142 balls and hit 17 fours, many of them mind-blowing. This innings has been muscular, graceful, defiant and unspeakably exhilarating. Truly, it has been our privilege to watch. Or read about me watching it in your case, which probably isn't much of a privilege.
82nd over: England 264-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 101, Taylor 19) I really don't know what to say. I can't get my head round how good this innings has been. I don't know if he's in the zone or not. If he isn't, God help the hairs on the back of our neck when he is. "All right, calm down," says John Starbuck, "or you'll have to write a book of this series and call it Fifty Shades of KP."
83rd over: England 267-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 101, Taylor 20) South Africa won't be panicking yet. They will legitimately feel that a wicket here could trigger a collapse against the second new ball. But if KP is still there tomorrow morning, all bets are off. "KP only needs about 50 more and it'll only be a minority demanding he be dropped on Twitter tomorrow," says Gary Naylor.
84th over: England 267-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 101, Taylor 20) I should have told you that it was Steyn rather than Morkel sharing the new ball, but I was lost in a beautiful world of KP love, shaking my head softly, trying to fathom how anyone could play with such majesty. He blasts a couple of drives off Steyn but they are straight at extra cover and mid off respectively.
"This innings should give KP at least two weeks before people start questioning him again," says George Wright. "Has such a great player, with such undeniable stats, ever been less appreciated?" Not many, if any. Jonathan Trott in one-day cricket?
85th over: England 267-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 102, Taylor 20) A maiden from Philander to Taylor, who has played calmly and responsibly to reach 20 from 68 balls.
86th over: England 276-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 111, Taylor 20) An outswinger from Steyn is clattered through the covers for four more by Pietersen. He had a slightly manic period when Morkel bombed him yet there is now a serenity about him that will worry South Africa. He's still throwing the bat but it all seems very calm and controlled; later in the over he blazes another boundary straight back over Steyn's head. Maybe he is in the zone. Mind you, most people tend to achieve that only once or twice in their life, if that. Monday July 22 2002, since you asked.
87th over: England 281-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 112, Taylor 24) Morkel replaces Philander and is back cut wristily for four by Morkel, his best shot so far. I wonder if South Africa are now regretting Morkel's little attack on KP from around the wicket; that's what got him going. You guys are history.
88th over: England 293-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 124, Taylor 24) Another breathtaking shot from Pietersen, a wonderfully timed and almost gentle pull through midwicket for Steyn that races away for four. "Seriously... that's just like Under-12s and he's facing the best bowler in the world," coos Shane Warne. And now he's topped the lot! Pietersen has driven Dale Steyn right back over his head for a monumental six. It was very similar to this shot off Glenn McGrath on his debut, yet it went even straighter. And Steyn is 10mph faster. The best bowler in the world is being manhandled and treated with a complete lack of respect. KP smears a pull for two next ball and ends the over with a perfect, theatrical forward defensive.
89th over: England 293-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 124, Taylor 24) Taylor is beaten by a nice Morkel awayswinger. South Africa still only need one wicket. Ideally Pietersen but they'll take anything. "Vintage Kevin," writes Alistair Halton. "I'd keep him til he walked away. He's also allowing Taylor a quietly effective debut. Of course if Amla hadn't dropped him... cricket, lovely cricket."
90th over: England 296-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 126, Taylor 25) Philander replaces Steyn, whose last two overs with the new ball were mauled for 21. Taylor takes a tight run into the leg side and would have been out had Amla, running in from midwicket, hit the stumps with a close-range underarm throw.
91st over: England 304-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 131, Taylor 28) There are still 19 overs remaining, although play can't go on beyond 7.30pm. Taylor has a wild and woolly cut at Morkel, meeting only fresh Yorkshire air, and then flicks nicely through square leg for two. This has been a distinctly promising debut innings. Another single brings up the 300. The character of the game has changed completely since tea. It usually does when KP goes to work. He's at it again off the final ball of the over, muscling a brutal pull stroke for four more. Amazing. You didn't think a piddling thing like the Olympics was going to keep KP out of the limelight, did you?
92nd over: England 304-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 131, Taylor 28) A maiden from Philander to Taylor. "Rob – do you think with the Olympics on and GB medals at the velodrome, the rowing and (probably) in the stadium, this will be the finest century that no one will have seen?" says David Mayo. "And does that make it all the more special?" It's our little secret.
93rd over: England 305-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 132, Taylor 28) Imran Tahir is coming back into the attack. Will KP go after him? Not for now. He settles for a wristy single to leg. "Dear Rob, I have spent the past three years plotting an email to the OBO that through its extraordinary wit and linguistic brilliance would earn my instant fame and perhaps a job at the Guardian," writes Ben Eastham. "But the last session has made me all giddy and now I'm breaking my long-treasured OBO virginity by writing to say: I heart KP. That is all."
94th over: England 312-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 139, Taylor 28) A short ball from Philander is brutalised through midwicket for four by Pietersen. The P(i)etersen family have certainly profited from the pull stroke in this match. You almost forget the match situation when somebody plays an innings like this, yet England are now only 107 runs behind. All results are possible now.
"I'm poolside, at a villa up in the hills of Ibiza," says Ryan. "My only company is you, a stream of the cricket on one side of the laptop, and a stream of the Brazil – Honduras game on the other. Well that and I've made a chilli and I'm drinking a fine bottle of Rose. Any female OBOers in Ibiza, fancy a swim and some dinner? Long shot." Well that email took a fairly significant turn halfway through.
95th over: England 319-4 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 140, Taylor 34) A classy, wristy flick through midwicket for four from ... actually it's Taylor this time, and it was a lovely stroke. He drives Tahir for two more later in the over to bring the deficit down to precisely 100.
"Apart from the fact that, every time he's facing a ball, I get a little choked up because my brain tells me some lucky schoolboy in an episode of "Jim'll Fix It" is getting to live his dream – it reminds me of the Pitt the Younger episode of Blackadder – how excellently is Taylor playing?" says Kieron Shaw. "On Test debut against the most formidable attack in world cricket, in a pressure match, in a pressure situation, and he looks completely unflustered – no jittery prods, no near calls, no tying himself in nervous knots. He's just been quietly executing a nice array of unhurried shots, like he's lived at No6 his whole life. Is it too early to start saying our probems at that position are now solved forever?" Far too early, although this has been a fine innings. As you say, his calmness and sense of belonging have really stood out.
WICKET! England 320-5 (Taylor b Morkel 34) South Africa have got the wicket they desperately needed. Taylor, back when he probably should have been forward, pushed defensively with an angled bat and inside edged Morkel back onto his stumps. That ends a promising debut innings: 34 from 104 balls with four fours, and a partnership of 147 with Kevin Pietersen.
96th over: England 321-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 141, Prior 1) Matt Prior isn't necessarily the man you'd want to bowl to at the end of a long day, although South Africa will feel they are a quick wicket away from being in charge again. "Exactly what I'd expect of KP," says Alex Netherton, "to upstage my first shopping list in years."
97th over: England 323-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 142, Prior 1) Pietersen feels his leg after taking a single off Tahir. I don't think he's pulled anything. We've heard of teams bowling for a run out but bowling for a retired hurt really would be absurd.
"Did you ever read the David Foster Wallace NYT piece about Federer?" says Michael Anderson. "Pietersen's last couple of hours have brought it to mind. Kevin Pietersen as religious experience, indeed..."
98th over: England 328-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 143, Prior 5) Prior drags Morkel from well wide of off stump through midwicket for his first boundary. There are 11 overs remaining in the day.
99th over: England 329-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 144, Prior 5) Pietersen is beaten by a lovely delivery from Tahir. His response is, of course, a switch hit. He misses the ball and falls over as it spins down the leg side.
100th over: England 330-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 145, Prior 5) Steve Davis decides to check upstairs when Dale Steyn hits the stumps with a throw from mid on. Pietersen was fine. I wonder if Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph are getting any flashbacks to this Test match. Far too early to say something similar will happen, but all results are still are possible and I'm not sure we expected that once South Africa passed 400.
101st over: England 334-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 146, Prior 8) Prior, quick on his feet, makes room to back cut Tahir for three. Graeme Smith injured his knee in the course of saving the boundary and is going to receive some treatment. He's now hobbling off to the dressing room; when Smith leaves the field you know it's pretty serious. That could be a problem later in the match now that runners are no longer allowed.
102nd over: England 335-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 146, Prior 9) Steyn is coming back on for one final burst. It would be just like him to pick up Pietersen's wicket at the end of a long, tiring day. Pietersen is relatively becalmed, having scored six from his last 26 deliveries, and there is just one from the over.
"'I wonder if Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph are getting anyflashbacks to this Test match,'" says Helen Musselman of the entry in the 100th over. "As a South African cricket fan, I live in permanent expectation that the Proteas will find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I like to think it's prepared me for the disillusionments of life." It's so true. Watching English cricket in the 1980s and 1990s was definitely more important than puberty.
103rd over: England 339-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 147, Prior 10) A couple of no-balls in that Tahir over. There are still six overs remaining in theory but play will end in nine minutes' time.
104th over: England 348-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 148, Prior 18) Steyn's LBW appeal is caught in the throat because of a very late inside edge from Prior. That would have been really close. Prior responds with consecutive boundaries, a swashbuckling pull and a clip through square leg.
105th over: England 351-5 (in reply to South Africa's 419; Pietersen 149, Prior 20) That's it for the day. Pietersen ends on 149 not out. It's an evocative score in English cricket history – and so will be whatever score Pietersen ends up on, because we shall never forget this innings. The team score – 351 for five – has historical significance too, but England will want plenty more tomorrow.
They have an unexpected chance to win this thanks to the astonishing genius of Kevin Pietersen, who walks off to a standing ovation from the crowd and the England balcony, as well as generous congratulations from the South African team. When I came to work I thought, maybe even hoped, that the rain would mean there wasn't much play. Thank goodness it stayed away after lunch because it allowed us all to witness an innings of unimaginable majesty. Oh man, I just don't know what to say. What an innings. What an innings. I'm off to toast KP. Thanks for your emails; night.