England face mammoth total to win Test

Published Aug 24, 2003

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Leeds, England - Andrew Hall was stranded one short of a maiden Test century as South Africa set England an awesome 401 to win after being dismissed for 365 in their second innings on the fourth afternoon of the fourth Test.

The touring side clattered 129 in the morning session at five runs an over, ignoring the perils of a deteriorating Headingley track, as Hall, batting at nine, hammered 99 not out off 87 balls. He hit 72 in boundaries.

Only three teams have ever scored more in the fourth innings to win a test.

South Africa, looking to go 2-1 up in the five-match series, watched their last five wickets put on 205, more than the top order, with the final pair adding 54 at a run a ball.

In the first innings South Africa's first four wickets fell for 21 while the last three made 200.

- South Africa resumed on 164-5. McKenzie edged Flintoff to second slip where Butcher grassed a simple catch with the score on 194-5.

- Boucher responded with a drive and cut for four next over off James Anderson as the pair put on 52 in the first 10 overs.

- McKenzie, on 38, mis-pulled Flintoff to Martin Bicknell who took a sprawling catch at wide mid-on. 59-run stand. 219-6.

- Boucher aimed an ambitious back-foot drive off Flintoff and was caught behind for 39, 232-7. Flintoff two wickets for four runs in six balls.

- England's all-seam attack continue to leak boundaries. Anderson, overpitching to leg, hammered for five fours and 31 runs off five overs. Hall drove James Kirtley through extra cover as 50 came off 53 balls.

- Hall drove Kirtley through cover again for the 15th boundary of the morning N 60 of first 92 runs in fours. 100 runs in 20 overs.

- Kabir Ali brought on and hit for three consecutive fours by Hall, two cover drives and a cut.

- Monde Zondeki bowled by Bicknell for seven, off stump sent cartwheeling by a perfect leg-cutter after a 49-run stand. 281-8. Lunch: 293-8.

- Hall swept Bicknell away to reach his half-century off 53 balls (10x4). Makhaya Ntini lbw to Ali for 8 after 30-run stand, 311-9.

- Hall pulled Flintoff for a six and then cut and pulled two fours off an over. He then drove Kirtley for a massive six over long on to get to 98, took a single and saw Dewald Pretorius bowled middle stump with a ball that kept low. 365 all out. Hall 99 off 87 balls (2x6, 15x4).

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