Cricket: Alviro Petersen ton puts South Africa in the driving seat

Alviro Petersen punished England for dropping him early on by scoring his fourth Test century as South Africa reached 262 for five at the close of the first day of the second Test yesterday.

Petersen was 124 not out at stumps, after England won the toss, and Jacques Rudolph was on one.

England bowler Steven Finn’s problem of clipping the stumps at the non-striker’s end with his knee in his follow-through cost him. He did it three times in the morning and on the fourth occasion, when Graeme Smith edged to Andrew Strauss at slip while on six, the ball was ruled out.

Referee Jeff Crowe said the batsmen had complained Finn’s actions were a distraction. The rules stipulate that a dead ball can be called if a batsman is distracted by noise or movement while waiting to receive the ball.

England’s fight-back after lunch saw South Africa slump from 120 for none to 157 for three. Smith scored 52 before he clipped Tim Bresnan to leg gully Ian Bell while Hashim Amla followed his 311 not out at The Oval with an innings of nine ended by a run out.

Jacques Kallis was caught at second slip for 19 by Alastair Cook – who had earlier dropped Petersen when he was on 25.

Stuart Broad then caused AB de Villiers to chop on to his stumps in the next over for 47 and Finn bowled Dale Steyn for a duck.