Headingley Test: Alviro Petersen century put South Africa in control
Alviro Petersen celebrates his fourth Test century
Alviro Petersen century drove South Africa to 262-5 on the first day of the second Test at Headingley on Thursday.
The 31-year-old right-hander hit 266-ball 124 and with the help of 16 boundaries and shared 120-run opening stand with skipper Graeme Smith (52) to set the platform for a convincing total.
The day saw a Finn wicket cancelled out by a dead ball call from umpire Steve Davis.
Smith was on 6 when he edged to England skipper Andrew Strauss at first slip, but umpire Steve Davis ruled the ball was dead because Finn had dislodged the bails in his bowling follow through.
He had previously knocked the bails off twice during the morning session.
Law 23.4, section 6 of cricket’s rules states: “An umpire shall call and signal dead ball when the striker is distracted by any noise or movement while receiving.”
Hitting four boundaries in his cautious 93-ball knock, the Smith was eventually out for 52 after lunch, spooning a catch to Ian Bell off paceman Tim Bresnan shortly into the post-lunch session.
Soon after Hashim Amla, who scored an unbeaten 311 runs in the first Test, was run-out for 9 consequent to a mix-up with Petersen.
South Africa had not yet recovered from the early blows when pace spearhead James Anderson edged Jacques Kallis to Alaister Cook in slips to leave the tourists tottering at 163-3 tea.
A comprehensive spell of rain and wet outfield delayed the start of final session for about one and half-hour and when the play resumed Petersen and AB de Villiers launched a strong recovery with a levelheaded approach.
Petersen brought up his fourth Test century in 211 deliveries.
Paceman Stuart Broad eventually snapped the 97-run stand between the two batsmen by uprooting the stumps of de Villiers, who hit nine boundaries in his 107-ball knock.
Two overs later Finn scalped nightwatchman Dale Styen for a duck in the similar fashion.
Petersen was given out leg-before to Finn when he was on 119 but he successfully referred the call and with the TV replays suggesting the ball would have bounced over the stumps.
