Unprecedented decisions infuse life into rainy Test

Ali Bacher, managing director of the South African cricket board, said both captains should be complimented on the decision to forfeit which he called a credit to Test cricket.

South Africa, with a winning 2-0 lead in the series, scored 155 for six in the 45 overs possible on the first day on Friday. There was no play on the second, third and fourth days.

Tuesday dawned bright and clear following five days of persistent rain which washed away parts of roads in Centurion and cost the Northerns Cricket Union more than 2.5 million rand ($411,700) in lost revenue.

Lance Klusener and Shaun Pollock took their seventh-wicket stand to 60 runs before Pollock was run out for 30 by Nasser Hussain’s direct hit from mid-on in the 12th over of the day.

Klusener and Mark Boucher then added 47 for the eighth wicket, a partnership which ended 40 minutes before lunch when Boucher was bowled off his pads by left-arm paceman Alan Mullally for 22.

Paul Adams was four not out when the declaration came, with Klusener unbeaten on 61. He was at the crease for 171 minutes, faced 95 balls and hit seven fours and a six.

SCOREBOARD

South Africa (1st innings; overnight 155-6): G Kirsten c Adams b Gough 0, H Gibbs c Adams b Caddick 3, J Kallis b Caddick 25, D Cullinan c&b Mulally 46, H Cronje c Maddy b Gough 0, P Strydom c Stewart b Silverwood 30, L Klusener not out 61, S Pollock run out (Hussain) 30, M Boucher b Mullally 22, P Adams not out 4;
Extras: (b2, lb11, nb11, w3) 27. Total: (for eight wickets decl) 248
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-15, 3-50, 4-55, 5-102, 6-136, 7-196, 8-243
Did not bat: M Hayward
Bowling: Gough 20-2-92-2 (nb10, w1), Caddick 19-7-47-2, Mullally 24-10-42-2 (nb1, w1), Silverwood 7-1-45-1 (w1), Vaughan 2-0-9-0

England (1st innings): Forfeited

South Africa (2nd innings): Forfeited.