Bairstow leads England recovery at Lord's
THE crucial third Test between England and South Africa at Lord's is still in the balance after two days.
South Africa resumed on 262-7 and stretched their score to 309 as Vernon Philander recorded his first Test fifty with a knock of 61 to equal JP Duminy's effort.
England made a poor start to the chase, losing Andrew Straus, Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook before they had amassed 40 runs and the Three Lions drifted to a high of 7-2 in-play.
Fittingly, Jonny Bairstow, called up in place of Kevin Pietersen, came to the rescue for England.
In partnership with Ian Bell, he added 124 runs before the fifth wicket fell, Bell's 58 and Bairstow's unbeaten 72 helping the hosts to 208-5 by close of play.
Hills make Bairstow 4-5 to go on to record a century and 10-11 to fall short of that mark. They make England 8-15 to hold a first-innings lead.
England, trailing by 101, need to win the match to stop South Africa taking over their mantle of the world's No. 1 Test team, and the home side are 15-8 for victory having been as short as evens in-play.
South Africa are a top-price 13-8 with Coral, while the draw can be backed at 13-5.
