LORD’S: day four of five; South Africa won toss

South Africa 247 (A.G. Prince 101) and 242-1 (G.C. Smith 107, N.D. McKenzie 102 not out) v England 593-8 dec (I.R. Bell 199, K.P. Pietersen 152, A.N. Cook 60)

Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie, having given the impression throughout the first two sessions that they would still be together at the close, were finally parted after their opening stand was worth 204 off 488 balls of solid attritional defence. The captain, having made 107, tried to pull James Anderson through midwicket against the second over of the new ball and lobbed a catch up to his great rival, Kevin Pietersen, in the gully.

Smith, who gave two chances when a stumping chance was missed on 26 and later when he was dropped at the wicket by Tim Ambrose – ironically off the bowling of Pietersen – reached his hundred off 186 balls and hit 11 fours. McKenzie, who often in the past has given the impression of belonging in the middle order rather than at the top of it, reached his fifth century in Test cricket shortly before the close of play off 307 balls with 13 fours. He faced in 323 balls.

He and Hashim Amla, who was subjected to some short-pitched bowling from Anderson, not only survived the new ball on this flattest of pitches but remained together until the close against an attack that appeared as blunted as South Africa’s earlier in the match. A near-full house at Lord’s was appreciative of one of the best fight-backs in recent years, the upshot of which is that a draw is the most likely result. South Africa are 104 runs behind.