248 DELIVERIES, 24 FOURS, 4 SIXES
SOUTH AFRICA V ENGLAND, 4TH TEST, JOHANNESBURG, 2005
England 411-8dec (Strauss 147, Key 83, Vaughan 82; Ntini 4-111) & 332-9dec (Trescothick 180) beat South Africa 419 (Gibbs 161; Hoggard 5-144) & 247 (Gibbs 98, Smith 67*; Hoggard 7-61) by 77 runs
OPPOSITION ATTACK: Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Nicky Boje
This was peak Trescothick. Almost written off by Christopher Martin-Jenkins in The Times after a first innings in which he made 16 to Andrew Strauss’ 147, he responded with “one of his greatest innings”, according to CMJ, who had suggested it was time that Tresco slipped down the order to allow Rob Key to partner Strauss.
With the five-match series tied at 1-1, South Africa had an eight-run lead after two 400-plus first innings. After losing Strauss and Key early, Trescothick went on the rampage with captain Michael Vaughan, putting on 124 for the third wicket. This thrilling Test then took another turn as England lost three quick wickets. Other than Vaughan, no batsman passed fifty and it was left to Ashley Giles, recovering from a dislocated thumb, to keep Trescothick company.
“In his more accustomed role (all hands and eye, and no feet),” according to Matthew Engel in Wisden, Trescothick reached his 10th Test hundred out of 197-5 by stumps on day four. The following day he was last out for 180 out of 332-9 declared.
With the game set up, Matthew Hoggard produced his best Test performance, taking 7-61 as England won by 77 runs, their 12th Test victory in 10 months. They held on to take the series 2-1 and held the Australians in their sights.
‘MY MOST SIGNIFICANT INNINGS’
It was a very important series, and this was my most significant innings. At the time South Africa were a very good side and we were becoming a great side so it was a big test for us to go over there and beat them, right before the Ashes in 2005. It was 1-1 at the time so it was a massive Test match. We were six down for about 220, which wasn’t really enough. I was batting with Ashley Giles and we decided to take a bit of a gamble. The new ball was due in eight overs and we thought it was best to have a go before it arrived and get up to a good total that way. I started to tee off a bit and we managed to get up to a score which we felt we could declare with and bowl them out. I ended up with 180 out of 330 and Hoggy ran through them.
Marcus Trescothick, AOC 79
