Cricket:Stuart Broad took three wickets in 15 balls to put England on course for near-certain victory in the second Test at Kingsmead. At the ground where he was once hit for six sixes in one over, Broad returned with a vengeance as South Africa lurched to 76 for six by the time bad light brought an early close on day four.
England declared 232 runs in front this afternoon, after Ian Bell (141) had vindicated his controversial selection with his ninth Test hundred in a total of 575 for nine.
Bell then pulled off a smart catch at silly point to help Graeme Swann (three for 22) inflict the initial damage as South Africa set out to bat four-and-a-half sessions to prevent England going 1-0 up with two matches to play.
But it was Broad’s elimination of Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy that accelerated the slide as he somehow mesmerised each of the three frontline batsman into playing no shot when one was required in murky light after tea.
After Swann had opener Ashwell Prince expertly caught by Bell via bat and pad and then bowled number three Hashim Amla through the gate, Broad (three for 18) took over.
Kallis lost his off-stump, to a length ball which nipped back off the seam; an lbw decision against De Villiers stood after review, and then Duminy also paid for a faulty leave — bowled first ball via an inside edge after attempting to pull his bat outside the line.
Broad had two wickets in two, but Mark Boucher denied him a hat-trick. Instead, it was Swann’s turn again.
This time, his victim was home captain Graeme Smith — who had watched the mayhem from the non-striker’s end after the calm of an opening stand of 27, only to become the fifth batsman to fall for the addition of only 13 runs.
He took a punt on reviewing an lbw decision but learned only that Swann’s off-spin had hit him bang in front.
Bell’s earlier contribution was put firmly in the shade, but that should not mask the fact he played a major role in creating England’s winning opportunity.
He shared a sixth-wicket century stand with Matt Prior (60) to augment the gains of Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood — who gave England a scare before play today when he dislocated his index finger, before x-rays revealed no break.
Prior’s 77-ball 50 was a handy ‘assist’ too.