Pressing the advantage is something Graeme Smith knows only too well. England may have thought they did a rewind to 2004 but this is not England though Smith is on the charge.
graeme smith century test against england
What a turnaround! From being completed outplayed at Durban, South Africa are in a strong position to even the series at Newlands, Cape Town in the third Test of England's tour to South Africa and the South African captain has given reason to the hosts to see who is in the ascendancy.
South Africa managed to pick two of the remaining three wickets in England's first innings without an additional to the overnight score of 241. Matt Prior did irritate in his innings of seventy-six runs to reduce the deficit from fifty runs to merely eighteen runs.
And if England were hoping that the first South African wicket to fall (Ashwell Prince falling to Graeme Swann) would see another tussle of attrition, their second reason to celebrate came 230 runs later after Graeme Smith had imposed himself firmly upon the visitors to the point that there appears that only one team can realistically win from here on.
Hashim Amla played his role too in the second wicket partnership that took the game almost entirely away from England as they drove the England cricketers into the ground for the better part of the day. Amla would feel disappointed, dismissed yet again in the nineties - this time for ninety-five. But he will feel mighty proud of the job he has played not only in adding those tremendous advantage boosting runs but also, in ensuring that the proximity of the two innings total did not hurt South Africa's interests.
But it was Smith who dug in with determination, stood with stoic grit and his commanding innings meant that England could not sight the chink in the South African armour, giving Smith plenty of reason to be satisfied with a great day's work.
South Africa will look to accelerate that advantage tomorrow in order to make the most of the two days remaining. Smith remained unbeaten on 162 as South Africa finished strongly on 312 for two with Jacques Kallis giving him great company.
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