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“Afternoon Daniel” Hi Kim Thonger, nice to hear from you, what normal cricket related correspondence do you have for me?
“There is much talk in the media and in scientific circles about the use of hitherto banned substances such as psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and MDMA (ecstasy) for the treatment of conditions such as addiction and PTSD. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration has classified psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy.”
Very normal, then, cheers mate. Oh, there’s more:
“Perhaps this is just what gets Crawley back into their groove. And even if it doesn’t work out on the field, after returning to the pavilion, he can spend a jolly afternoon watching the events unfold from the team balcony, in a hallucinogenic dream state, the best way to experience life in Manchester?
This, Kim, is crazy! And I won’t recommend Crawley altering his state of consciousness with a bat in hand, it worked for baseball pitcher Dock Ellis, who did something pretty sensational:
TEA: 65th over: South Africa 141-3 (Petersen 42, van der Dussen 41)
Petersen keeps Leach at bay for the final over before tea on the third day of this Test which rushed at a frantic pace before stalling as the South Africans poured in to drag the show out at least until on the fourth day This partnership of 87 has encompassed more than 42 others. England are still well on top and could still pull off an innings win tonight, but that looks less likely thanks to some feel from Saffa. I’m going to make a cuppa. Grab a few.
More than a few have gone down at Old Trafford if this beer snake is anything to go by. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
Updated at 3.48pm BST
An edge! But no attraction! Not outside!
What what! Sky replays show that van der Dussen actually got past Stokes in the 64th over. No one appealed. Foakes, Stokes and friends heard nothing, but the snickometer/ultraedge revealed a spike! Sensational! Can this be the difference in this game? South Africa will need all the help it can get.
64th over: South Africa 141-3 (Petersen 42, van der Dussen 41) Excellent by Stokes. It has van der Dussen in knots. One is jerking toward his pads, the other holds his line until he pulls away at the last moment. Van der Dussen looks to move around his stumps and cancel the swing and the final ball stays low and van der Dussen has to get down to block it. Both men giving it their all.
63rd over: South Africa 141-3 (Petersen 42, van der Dussen 41) A maiden from Jack Leach to Petersen. In the vast expanse of cricket’s storied history, no one will remember it. Turned deliveries aim to sail the stumps without much fuss or a run scored. Slip, short leg and short cover catchers simply have the closest seats to the blockathon. I love this sport!
62nd over: South Africa 141-3 (Petersen 42, van der Dussen 41) Ooooh, one ball. In any other situation, I think van der Dussen hits that half-volley wide from Stokes to the fence, but given his current state of mind (and his finger, did I mention his finger?), he checks his shot and just get a pair Get another two squares back on the outside with a targeted stab and move into the 40s.
These two have now faced a total of 263 balls. Remarkable things. Still 123 runs behind, but this 87-run partnership has been brilliant. Beat the boys!
61st over: 137-3 (Petersen 42, van der Dussen 37) Yes, Jack Leach replaces Broad. It is a dry and hard cover and the left-arm spinner will like it against the right-handers. His second ball to Petersen stays low and Petersen almost gets away with it as he goes back and pushes it away from his stumps. A late cut from a shorter ball gets him out and van der Dussen also takes a back-foot single towards extra cover.
60th over: 135-3 (Petersen 41, van der Dussen 36) Is Van der Dussen made up of right angles and four even lines? Because it has squared off! Lovely from Stokes who makes van der Dussen look ordinary with his first two balls landing a good length around a fifth stump line and getting away with just a touch. Van der Dussen follows, but isn’t close enough to hit either delivery. Lovely from the England skipper who then looks to return the final ball to the right but van der Dussen watches it carefully and plays it with the full face of the bat. There is no race. Leaching heating.
59th over: South Africa 135-3 (Petersen 41, van der Dussen 36) Broad falls short to Petersen, but it’s bent in front of the square through the side. Petersen takes no time, but takes two and crawls to 40. but he won’t worry about his score. Van der Dussen takes one earlier in the piece with a neat clip to the side. Broad won’t care too much. He is aiming at the stumps. It might be worth making it a little wider at the mid point. May be.
Remarkable resistance from van der Dussen. Word is that his finger might be broken. More as I understand it.
58th over: South Africa 132-3 (Petersen 39, van der Dussen 35) Van der Dussen takes a single off the first ball of this Stokes, getting to the bounce nicely and timing it well, but straight to deep man . square back This linebacker is at least 10 yards from the boundary. Funky. I like.
Petersen has a flash with some width but doesn’t connect as he runs out to aim one. Stokes has yet to bend it with a fuller on the stumps. Still happy to dig it.
57th over: South Africa 131-3 (Petersen 39, van der Dussen 34) It’s different approaches from each end as Stokes’ short stuff is juxtaposed with Broad’s intent to find an lbw. It’s full and straight with a hint of swing. Van der Dussen is lunging forward and you can see why Broad is anxious to catch him in front of the stumps. If you get one to move late, you’ll be in business. He loses his line slightly and van der Dussen is able to tickle it to fine leg for a single. Petersen plays his only delivery with a much straighter bat.
Stokes to Petersen, Broad to van der Dussen. This is what I think England will want to design. The opposite suits South Africa better.
cricket test Don’t you love it?
Oh, South Africa make 132. This partnership is now worth 78.
56th over: South Africa 130-3 (Petersen 39, van der Dussen 33) Stokes is hitting in short order but the pitch and ball are not helping him much. They barely step on the batsmen’s noses and both are able to pick up the bounce and drive one with a horizontal bat down the leg side. Stokes will persist though. I’m guessing he’ll want a sheet on Petersen, who won’t raise as many bumpers as the much taller van der Dussen.
55th over: South Africa 128-3 (Petersen 38, van der Dussen 32) So close for Broad, who plays the Kansas City Shuffle by fooling van der Dussen with a full ball that sinks into his pads. He hits the batsman on the front peg and Broad celebrates in style. But a feather from an edge saves the Saffa. Great bowling from Broad who had set things up for the short bowlers. No race either. Broad versus van der Dussen is the one to watch.
Updated at 3.05pm BST
Broad’s celebration rejected!
Wide traps van der Dussen on the pads, goes away, celebrating waiting for a wicket, turns and the umpire doesn’t move. He looked dead. Why don’t they review it? Broad is convinced!
Oh! A small lead has saved the batsman and Stokes wisely declines the option of sending him up. Robinson apparently heard the noise. So close to breakthrough!
Rassie doesn’t mind the short stuff, but I wonder what the stats are when he taps with nine fingers.
England may be tempted to go for their short-ball tactic with conditions reducing at Old Trafford – Rassie van der Dussen, however, performs well against the short ball, averaging 60 with just 4 dismissals against short deliveries in test cricket. #ENGvSA
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 27, 2022
54th over: South Africa 128-3 (Petersen 38, van der Dussen 32) Yes, as expected, Ben Stokes is charging towards the wicket and digs in shortly. He still hasn’t found his threat, but there is a clear plan. What will stick first? Stokes’ knee or the concentration of the South Africans?
Van der Dussen, himself nursing a broken finger, is relatively unfazed by the medium shots Stokes serves him and hits one with control for a single on the side. The shorter Petersen is content to duck under those who whistle in his direction.
Updated at 15.02 BST
53rd over: South Africa 127-3 (Petersen 38, van der Dussen 31) Stuart Broad is back and making it wobble immediately after that loping action. He took out Petersen with a beauty in the early innings and the Night HawkTM will want to get him back again. He digs into a half-tracker that doesn’t rise and Petersen’s missed cross-bat creates some excitement behind the stumps. Another short ball is headed comfortably to fine leg for a single and it looks like there is now a plan to reward a scalp with some chin music. It might work and I hope to see Stokes from the other end. Van der Dussen gets a full delivery and hits the off side for a single with Anderson stopping his mark at mid on. Stuart looks at his old partner.
52nd over: South Africa 125-3 (Petersen 37, van der Dussen 30) Thanks Collo! What step of you Stable, composed, disciplined. Just like these two Saffas who struggle with their jobs. The Proteas dressing room certainly has this playing on repeat. There’s still a long way to go as we’re barely halfway through this test. Stokes and Broad are setting up as Robinson bowls an over that contains another no-ball. Also a couple of singles for each batter. There is a drink…