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Tea South Africa 419 (Petersen 182, Smith 52, Duminy 48*, Broad 3-96) v England
Alviro Petersen progressed to his highest score in Test cricket on day two © PA Photos
Alviro Petersen had been the batsman in South Africa's top six that England least worried about, the only one to fail during the visitors' crushing innings victory at The Oval.
For Petersen to respond with 182, his highest Test score, did not really fit the script, especially as the script also involved England winning the toss in the second Test and putting South Africa in to bat, anticipating that their quartet of fast bowlers would cause mayhem. Instead, the tourists survived until tea on the second day.
Petersen did not just prove less vulnerable than England had anticipated, he produced the Test innings of his life: 182 in 365 balls, a ball for every day of the year, a year which from England's perspective will go down as an annus miserabilis.
It was the cornerstone of South Africa's 419 and unless the weather forecast proves entirely wrong and Headingley , the great trickster among Test grounds, stages its greatest ruse of all time, that austerely compiled total should at the very least protect their 1-0 lead entering the final Test at Lord's.
Petersen finally succumbed to Stuart Broad in mid-afternoon on the second day, edging to the wicketkeeper, Matt Prior. He departed with his reputation enhanced, a fourth Test hundred secured and a Test average now comfortably above 40.
The manner of his dismissal begged the question why England had not countered him with fullish deliveries on or around off stump more often because this was the area where he rode his luck most often. England's lengths were shorter, their lines straighter, and Petersen flourished throughout with strong leg-side strokeplay, reaching both his fifty and hundred on the first day with confident pulls.
England had to resort to DRS to claim Petersen's wicket. The not out decision by Rod Tucker was such a howler that Broad grinned at the absurdity of it all, knowing that the TV umpire would routinely overrule it. It was yet another example of how the Decision Review System enhances the game.
Once Petersen departed, at 353 for 7, England began to make progress, Vernon Philander swung Steven Finn to Tim Bresnan at deep square leg, Morne Morkel's attempted lofted drive against Broad fell tamely to Alastair Cook at mid-off and Imran Tahir fell without scoring, steering James Anderson to slip.
England remained committed to their long-held policy under Andrew Strauss, the captain, and Andy Flower, director of cricket, to play controlled Test cricket and draw their opponents into error. But their opponents were South Africa. They are not easily deflected from their task.
England had to settle for just the wicket of Jacques Rudolph in the first two hours. Even that dismissal served to challenge the sense of England's omission of Graeme Swann in favour of an all-pace attack. Kevin Pietersen, whose part-time offspin was introduced in desperation 20 minutes before lunch, puffed out his cheeks and turned his second ball sharply past Rudolph's outside edge for Prior to complete the stumping.
It was referred by the square-leg umpire but Rudolph's foot was on the line, not behind it. It was a narrow call - and will doubtless be too narrow for some partisan observers - but all the evidence was in favour of the third umpire, Asad Rauf. England had taken a wicket that they sorely needed. Back in the dressing room, Swann's testosterone levels probably rose sharply with frustration.
Petersen also resorted to technology with telling effect earlier in the day. He had successfully overturned an lbw decision made by umpire Steve Davis shortly before the close on the first day when he was 119 and he did so again, this time before adding to his overnight 124, when Anderson's delivery was shown to be both high and going down the leg side.
It was a perfect first session for South Africa. The second new ball was less than eight overs old at start of play and there was enough movement to encourage England's bowlers, but Petersen and Rudolph absorbed the pressure, accepted their moments of fortune with composure, and maintained a rigorous approach that has characterised South Africa's cricket through the series.
The day began with six successive maidens but to term it stalemate would be misleading because with every over that passed, the ball was ageing and, much to their frustration, England's chances were receding. Both Anderson and Stuart Broad were on their mettle, more purposeful than the first day, and nearly half an hour had elapsed when Petersen pushed Anderson into the off side for the first run.
When Petersen cut a short one from Anderson for four, the bowler fell over, whether through disappointment or because he had fainted with surprise it was difficult to gather.
There was frustration for Broad, too, as Jonathan Trott's misfield at fine leg allowed Rudolph a bonus boundary. England bowled shorter at Rudolph than Pietersen, recognising his unwillingness to hook or pull, but he was in no rush and a series of conscientious leave-alones were combined with an occasional flirt to third man.
Rudolph had managed 19 from 74 balls on the ground where he played with distinction for Yorkshire for several seasons, imagining that his South Africa career was over, before Pietersen struck.
But Petersen ground forward, surviving an occasional flash at a wide one, willing himself to remain true to the stern disciplines that South Africa believe will bring them the series.
Alviro Petersen progressed to his highest score in Test cricket on day two © PA Photos
Alviro Petersen had been the batsman in South Africa's top six that England least worried about, the only one to fail during the visitors' crushing innings victory at The Oval.
For Petersen to respond with 182, his highest Test score, did not really fit the script, especially as the script also involved England winning the toss in the second Test and putting South Africa in to bat, anticipating that their quartet of fast bowlers would cause mayhem. Instead, the tourists survived until tea on the second day.
Petersen did not just prove less vulnerable than England had anticipated, he produced the Test innings of his life: 182 in 365 balls, a ball for every day of the year, a year which from England's perspective will go down as an annus miserabilis.
It was the cornerstone of South Africa's 419 and unless the weather forecast proves entirely wrong and Headingley , the great trickster among Test grounds, stages its greatest ruse of all time, that austerely compiled total should at the very least protect their 1-0 lead entering the final Test at Lord's.
Petersen finally succumbed to Stuart Broad in mid-afternoon on the second day, edging to the wicketkeeper, Matt Prior. He departed with his reputation enhanced, a fourth Test hundred secured and a Test average now comfortably above 40.
The manner of his dismissal begged the question why England had not countered him with fullish deliveries on or around off stump more often because this was the area where he rode his luck most often. England's lengths were shorter, their lines straighter, and Petersen flourished throughout with strong leg-side strokeplay, reaching both his fifty and hundred on the first day with confident pulls.
England had to resort to DRS to claim Petersen's wicket. The not out decision by Rod Tucker was such a howler that Broad grinned at the absurdity of it all, knowing that the TV umpire would routinely overrule it. It was yet another example of how the Decision Review System enhances the game.
Once Petersen departed, at 353 for 7, England began to make progress, Vernon Philander swung Steven Finn to Tim Bresnan at deep square leg, Morne Morkel's attempted lofted drive against Broad fell tamely to Alastair Cook at mid-off and Imran Tahir fell without scoring, steering James Anderson to slip.
England remained committed to their long-held policy under Andrew Strauss, the captain, and Andy Flower, director of cricket, to play controlled Test cricket and draw their opponents into error. But their opponents were South Africa. They are not easily deflected from their task.
England had to settle for just the wicket of Jacques Rudolph in the first two hours. Even that dismissal served to challenge the sense of England's omission of Graeme Swann in favour of an all-pace attack. Kevin Pietersen, whose part-time offspin was introduced in desperation 20 minutes before lunch, puffed out his cheeks and turned his second ball sharply past Rudolph's outside edge for Prior to complete the stumping.
It was referred by the square-leg umpire but Rudolph's foot was on the line, not behind it. It was a narrow call - and will doubtless be too narrow for some partisan observers - but all the evidence was in favour of the third umpire, Asad Rauf. England had taken a wicket that they sorely needed. Back in the dressing room, Swann's testosterone levels probably rose sharply with frustration.
Petersen also resorted to technology with telling effect earlier in the day. He had successfully overturned an lbw decision made by umpire Steve Davis shortly before the close on the first day when he was 119 and he did so again, this time before adding to his overnight 124, when Anderson's delivery was shown to be both high and going down the leg side.
It was a perfect first session for South Africa. The second new ball was less than eight overs old at start of play and there was enough movement to encourage England's bowlers, but Petersen and Rudolph absorbed the pressure, accepted their moments of fortune with composure, and maintained a rigorous approach that has characterised South Africa's cricket through the series.
The day began with six successive maidens but to term it stalemate would be misleading because with every over that passed, the ball was ageing and, much to their frustration, England's chances were receding. Both Anderson and Stuart Broad were on their mettle, more purposeful than the first day, and nearly half an hour had elapsed when Petersen pushed Anderson into the off side for the first run.
When Petersen cut a short one from Anderson for four, the bowler fell over, whether through disappointment or because he had fainted with surprise it was difficult to gather.
There was frustration for Broad, too, as Jonathan Trott's misfield at fine leg allowed Rudolph a bonus boundary. England bowled shorter at Rudolph than Pietersen, recognising his unwillingness to hook or pull, but he was in no rush and a series of conscientious leave-alones were combined with an occasional flirt to third man.
Rudolph had managed 19 from 74 balls on the ground where he played with distinction for Yorkshire for several seasons, imagining that his South Africa career was over, before Pietersen struck.
But Petersen ground forward, surviving an occasional flash at a wide one, willing himself to remain true to the stern disciplines that South Africa believe will bring them the series.