England’s bowlers struck three times in the opening session on the fourth day of the first test against South Africa on Saturday to leave the home side under pressure at 80—4 in their second innings at lunch.
At that stage South Africa, 62 runs ahead on the first innings, was 142 runs ahead with five sessions left in the match.
Having resumed on 9—1, nightwatchman Paul Harris, was the first to fall. He lasted only 2.5 overs before being bowled off his thigh—pad for 11 by James Anderson, having hit two fours in his 28 minutes at the crease.
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South Africa then suffered two big blows in the space of 10 overs when captain Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis were sent back to the pavilion 12 runs apart. Smith had crept to 12 in 53 minutes with a single boundary and eventually edged a lowish ball from Graham Onions onto his stumps.
The big South African contributed only 12 runs in the match, and more damage was to come when first innings century—maker Kallis,pulled a short ball from Stuart Broad to square—leg for Alastair Cook to take a good catch.
Kallis spent 43 minutes in making four runs, and with the score on 46—4 when he was out, the lead was only 108.
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Hashim Amla survived to lunch on 34 not out scored off 79 balls with four fours. With him at the wicket was A.B. de Villiers on 17 not out off 25 balls with one four and one six.
Though other batsmen had battled against Graeme Swann, De Villiers used his feet well to the spinner and hit him into the stands at long—on to relive some of the pressure just before lunch.
At the break, the fifth—wicket stand between Amla and De Villiers was worth 34 runs, while Anderson had figures of 2—28.