Sports Latest
The latest UK & World sports news from the Press Association
England wilt as Amla turns up heat
16:45, Dec 19 2009
Hashim Amla's seventh Test hundred ensured England's last nine wickets must last the final day to avoid defeat at Centurion.
Amla (100) came in at 20 for two on the penultimate morning of the first Test and soon saw South Africa falter to a perilous 46 for four, with an existing lead of only 62 on an unpredictable pitch.
But he proved immovable for more than four hours, gradually drawing England's sting in a fifth-wicket stand of 121 with AB de Villiers (65) and helped South Africa to declare on 301 for seven before England closed on 11 for one.
By the time James Anderson (four for 73) bowled him with some low bounce from the second new ball, Amla had kept out 212 deliveries and collected 10 fours.
When England lost captain Andrew Strauss - caught behind off a good delivery from Morne Morkel - they were in a thoroughly unenviable position.
Nightwatchman Paul Harris, who has a habit of going across his stumps, was unlucky to be bowled round his legs by Anderson - the ball taking a freak change of direction after clipping the bottom of his thigh pad.
There was much less fortune associated with the big wicket of Graeme Smith, although the home captain did get an inside edge on to his stumps on a very good ball from Graham Onions which curved back into the left-hander to defeat his forward-defence.
Two men were set back on the hook for Kallis, and he did not get enough bat on a Stuart Broad short ball to beat Alastair Cook - who took a well-judged catch on the deep-square boundary.
The return of Broad, and plenty more patience, finally did for De Villiers when he drove on the up and fell to a smart diving catch at cover by Ian Bell.
When Amla finally went, it was merely a question of whether South Africa would be tempted to put England back in and Strauss was very soon wishing they had not.
Charnley inspires Wigan triumph 20:45, Feb 11 2012
Winger Josh Charnley scored a hat-trick of tries as Wigan bounced back from their shock opening home defeat by Huddersfield with a clinical 20-6 destruction of Stobart Super League champions Leeds. more
Spurs fans show Redknapp the love 20:45, Feb 11 2012
Tottenham's fans pleaded with Harry Redknapp to snub England and stay at White Hart Lane as the Spurs boss masterminded a brutal 5-0 hammering of Newcastle. more
France/Ireland clash called off 20:45, Feb 11 2012
Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash with France has been postponed due to the weather conditions in Paris. more
Adebayor inspires Spurs romp 19:45, Feb 11 2012
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp ended an emotional week on a huge high as his team ruthlessly hammered Newcastle 5-0 at White Hart Lane. more
England claim narrow Italy victory 18:45, Feb 11 2012
England dug themselves out of a snow-hole in freezing Rome to beat Italy 19-15 with another charge-down try from Charlie Hodgson and Owen Farrell's perfect kicking display. more
Chelsea suffer defeat at Everton 17:45, Feb 11 2012
Steven Pienaar and Denis Stracqualursi struck as Everton piled on the pressure for Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas with a 2-0 victory. more
Late Henry winner rescues Arsenal 17:45, Feb 11 2012
Substitute Thierry Henry marked the final league game of his loan spell at Arsenal with a last-gasp winner to see off Sunderland 2-1. more
McArthur clinches Wigan victory 17:45, Feb 11 2012
James McArthur boosted Wigan's survival hopes with a dramatic goal which handed the Latics a 2-1 win over fellow Barclays Premier League strugglers Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. more
Williams inspires Quins win 17:45, Feb 11 2012
Harlequins returned to winning ways as winger Tom Williams helped orchestrate a 30-23 victory over London Irish which extended their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership. more
Fleming and Hutchins put GB ahead 16:45, Feb 11 2012
Great Britain moved to within one rubber of a fifth consecutive Davis Cup win under captain Leon Smith after Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins beat Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek of Slovakia at Glasgow's Braehead Arena. more
Cold snap affects sporting weekend 15:45, Feb 11 2012
The cold snap continued to wreak further havoc with the sporting calendar on Saturday after the npower Championship clash between Peterborough and West Ham was postponed due to a frozen pitch along with a number of League One and League Two matches. more
Rangers ease to win at Dunfermline 15:45, Feb 11 2012
Lee McCulloch grabbed his first goal of the season as Rangers fought back from behind to claim a 4-1 win and deny Dunfermline their first home victory of the season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. more
