Test poised after Jonny show

The third Test between England and South Africa remains finely poised as the touring side reached 145-3 at stumps on Saturday, for a lead of 139 after a pulsating third Day at Lord's. Hashim Amla, who was dropped on 2 by Matt Prior off Stuart Broad, is 57 not out in a Test the Proteas only need to draw to secure the 1-0 series win that would see them replace England as the world's top-ranked test side.

An 81-run stand between Amla and Jacques Kallis threatened to take the game away from England, but Steven Finn, who has 1-28, kept the hosts' hopes alive when he had Kallis lbw for 31 in the 47th over.

Earlier, South Africa dismissed England for 315, after a last-wicket stand of 32 by Graeme Swann, who made 37 not out, and Steven Finn with 10 had given the hosts a slender first-innings lead of six runs.

Jonny Bairstow fell five runs short of a maiden test century, with a knock of 95 from 196 balls that included 13 fours, before he was bowled by Morne Morkel. Morkel finished with figures of 4-80 while Dale Steyn took 4-94.

Resuming on 208-5, England survived for half an hour until Matt Prior fell to the first delivery with the new ball, from Vernon Philander. Prior's dismissal squandered a promising start by England. Having reached 27 he was needlessly aggressive against the new ball and slashed Philander straight to Kallis at second slip. Broad played fluently but was out for 16, fending a Steyn delivery to Amla at short leg.

It might have been worse for England, but Swann successfully referred an lbw decision when he was on 12 and replays showed Steyn's delivery would have passed over the stumps. Bairstow's innings had almost ground to a halt once he'd entered the 90s.

... contd.

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