England vs South Africa – 2nd Test, Day 1 – Pre-day analysis - Live Cricket Score and Update
The first day of the second Test between England and South Africa in the Investec Series of 2012, ended with the visitors perched at 262 for 5 at stumps. South Africa’s top scorer was Alviro Petersen, who managed to score a patient and well compiled hundred
after faltering miserably in the first Test. Each of England’s top line seamers managed to bag a wicket a piece to make sure that the game stays in the balance.
The Headingley pitch was speculated to favor the seamers, which eventually influenced English Captain, Andrew Strauss's decision to bowl first after winning the toss. However, dropped catches managed to cloud the efforts of the bowlers who toiled hard when
the sun was out for the most part of the innings. The English bowlers failed to penetrate into South Africa’s robust batting line up until the 37th over. Batsmen Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen played assuredly and peppered the English bowlers as the sun
was out.
Headingley has gained notoriety for being a venue of extremities and it lived up to that label throughout the day’s proceedings. It became tailor made for stroke play as the sun managed to glisten the outfield and flatten the track out. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 went
on to bring up his 32nd half century in Test cricket, whereas his fellow counterpart brought up his third hundred in the format. South Africa’s inability to sustain their sensational start can in part be explained in light of tight English bowling and the
fact that the conditions continued to change.
These changing conditions were the underlying reason for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 managing to make inroads into the South African batting. England’s ground fielding was spot on, yet the catching was dismal which eventually cost England an undue advantage at the end of the
day. South Africa’s decision to have a night watchman come out in the latter part of the innings, backfired miserably as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AJ-Strauss-c964, where he acknowledged that the Headingley
pitch was not as quick as the one that they encountered at the Oval. Short legs and short covers were deployed on a frequent basis, which managed to stymie the smooth flow or runs as the batsman resorted towards playing defensive strokes instead.
The second day would thus begin, with neither side emerging on top. The forecast for the second day, predicts overcast conditions for the most part, along with outside chances of a downpour. England had already taken the new ball in the 80th over
and not much has changed with regard to the shine of the delivery or the impact it would have in the morning.
In light of this England will start as favourites and the onus would be on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757’s chances of scoring 350 would heavily depend on the overhead conditions
and the line and lengths that the English bowlers employ. In light of the potency of South Africa’s attack, the first innings total at Headingley will be crucial in determining the outcome of the game. Deployment of short legs and short covers would help Andrew
Strauss pressurize Rudolph who is new to the crease.
It is advantage England coming into the second day of the Second Test.
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