Anderson lets rip as England bounce back
CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss revealed how a dressing-room dust down inspired England to a tremendous seven-wicket success over South Africa at Port Elizabeth.
Strauss lambasted his bowling attack after the comprehensive 112-run defeat to the Proteas in Cape Town on Friday.
And it worked a treat as James Anderson’s career-best 5-23 led a stinging attack on the shell-shocked Proteas, who were skittled out for just 119.
“We had a good chat about what went wrong in Cape Town and were very accurate today,” a delighted Strauss admitted, whose side now lead the series 2-1 with one match to play. “James Anderson was outstanding, creating pressure and bowling wicket-taking deliveries as well.”
In-form Anderson started as he meant to go on, taking Hashim Amla and JP Duminy in his first six overs before demolishing the South African middle order in his second spell.
The Lancastrian clearly stole the show but also his support Stuart Broad and Paul Collingwood also shone, each taking two wickets on a slow pitch.
Broad set out England’s intentions early, trapping captain Graeme Smith lbw just four balls after the Proteas skipper chose to bat.
Things subsequently deteriorated for the hosts, who struggled to deal with the full-length swing which ripped through their top order.
The only glimmer of promise was shown by Alviro Peterson, who made 50 in 73 balls, but as Smith was quick to point out; “Nobody else put in the hard yards with the bat.”
Strauss and fellow South African-born opener Jonathan Trott got England off to the perfect start in reply, putting on a solid 73 for the first wicket and steering the tourists in sight of victory. But once Strauss departed for 32, England began to wobble with Kevin Pietersen (3) and record appearance maker Paul Collingwood (2) failing to see them through.
That job was left to Trott, who went on to make his half-century, supported ably by Eoin Morgan (28no), to leave England in the enviable position of ending the series in Durban this Friday with at least a draw.