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Rediff.com  » Sports » Smith makes history before SA declare on 682 for 6

Smith makes history before SA declare on 682 for 6

Last updated on: August 03, 2003 01:46 IST
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Scoreboard

Graeme Smith continued his extraordinary run spree against England as South Africa eyed victory in the second Test after another day of domination at Lord's.

The South Africans, batting around Smith's 259 - his second consecutive double hundred and the highest score by an overseas player at Lord's - amassed a national record of 682 for six before declaring shortly after tea on a sun-drenched third day.

England, needing 509 runs to avoid an innings defeat, ended the day with 129 for two, 380 behind.

New captain Michael Vaughan, who saved the hosts in the first Test at Edgbaston with a century, made 29 before giving away his wicket with a rash shot for the second time in the match.

Dropped off a cut at slip by Shaun Pollock, Vaughan injudiciously chased a wide ball from all-rounder Andrew Hall just two balls later and gave Pollock an opportunity to make amends.

Soon after it was 60 for two Marcus Trescothick, England's second-best hope of a miracle, misjudged a pull off Makhaya Ntini and was being brilliantly caught by Paul Adams, running back from square leg. He made 23.

Nasser Hussain was 36 not out at close with Mark Butcher on 33.

Strike bowler Ntini conceded 71 off his 13 overs.

STANDING OVATION

The 22-year-old Smith, looking for a third win out of the four matches he's been in charge, batted for just over nine-and-a-half hours, working most of his 34 boundaries away to leg, before edging James Anderson back into his stumps in the afternoon.

Resuming on 214 out of a total of 412 for two, Smith had been within sight of his own South Africa Test innings record of 277 -- which he had made in the first Test -- before he departed to a standing ovation.

Only the fourth man ever to make double hundreds in consecutive Test matches, he has now scored 621 runs in the series, at an average of 207.

He has batted for 20 hours and 19 minutes in all, some five hours longer than England's first three innings.

His innings at Lord's eclipsed Don Bradman's 254 against England in 1930.

England helped their opponents with a miserable fielding display as they missed a handful of simple -- and expensive -- chances.

Smith had been spilled on eight, Gary Kirsten on 54 before he made a century, while Dippenaar was got two lives, when he was on 15 and 36, on his way to 92.

Boucher added spark to the afternoon with a 43-ball half-century and 68 off 51 balls, including 12 fours and one thumping six off Giles.

South Africa's score bettered their previous record Test innings of 622 for nine against Australia in Durban in 1969-70.

The first Test of the five-match series was dominated by South Africa but ended in a draw after a day's play was lost to rain.

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Source: REUTERS
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