MATCH DRAWN A dull day with a farcical end, but the first Test has been drawn. England dominated the first three days, but couldn't press home the advantage on a typically placid Lord's strip. South Africa's top three were magnificent in the second innings, and England's attack had no answer to the dead bats and dead pitch.

Over 71 Cook 0-0-0-1-0-0 393-3d - Tellingly, the TV caption describes Cook as a "right-arm bowler". Nothing more specific than that. As it turns out, he's an off-spinner. Of sorts. He bowls an over of rubbish that costs just a single that eats up the time required so that all the players can shake hands again. This time, that will be the end of the game.

Over 70 Pietersen 0-0-2-0-0-0 392-3 - England's fiery opening bowler Pietersen will bowl this over. Amla gets two with a push through the covers off the back foot.

SUNSHINE AND FARCE The sun's come out now, and the players are called back out into the middle. They've all shaken hands but rules must be obeyed and the players will come back out for another 10 minutes or so before South Africa can declare at 1650. Farce, as once again this great game takes the chance to look stupid. The players were all quite happy to call this a draw - they'd shaken hands! - and now we have a pointless exercise in futility. Smith shakes his head on the visitors' balcony and for once I agree with him. So much for that victory for common sense I spoke about less than five minutes ago.

BAD LIGHT A rare victory for common sense. There's nothing wrong with the light here, but the umpires offer it to the batsmen, and off we go with handshakes all round. Six draws in a row at Lord's now, and both teams deserve credit here - England for getting into a fantastic position on the first three days, and South Africa for getting out of a horrible one. But ultimately, the pitch decreed that no result would be possible here. The bails are removed, but the umpires are still out in the middle so we'll just wait for final confirmation that the match has ended in a draw.

Over 69 Collingwood 4-0-0-1-0-0 390-3 - A misfield in the gully gets Amla four runs to take him through to an excellent century (231 balls, 14x4s). Right, let's call this off now. Nothing further to be achieved in this game. South Africa lead the centuries 4-2, but they have of course had twice as much chance as their opponents. Three hundreds in three matches on this tour for Amla. He gets another single from a cut shot in front of point, before a bizarre incident. Prince makes a right mess of a short ball from Collingwood, and the ball bounces right off the top of the handle and loops agonisingly back over the bowler's head before landing safely. Prince couldn't do that again if you gave him a hundred attempts.

Over 68 Broad 0-0-1-0-0-0 385-3 - It's leg theory again from England to Amla. I thought we'd established quite conclusively that it won't work, but England are persevering. Amla pulls to long-leg for a single to move on to 97, and Prince is then beaten by one that moves away off the pitch. That's a first.

Over 67 Collingwood 2-1-0-4-1-0 384-3 - We've already seen Panesar and Pietersen take the new ball in this innings. Now add Collingwood to that unlikely list. Prince works the first ball to leg for a couple, and gets a single from the next. Broad still moving gingerly at square-leg, by the way. Amla moves to 95 with an unconvincing slash over the top of gully as Collingwood gets the ball to hoop away at gentle pace. Amla plays the next ball into the offside in more convincing fashion and collects a single. Just one boundary away now.

Over 66 Broad 0-0-0-0-3-1 376-3 - England do take the new ball. Broad at one end, but I'm not sure who'll have it at the other end. Collingwood, presumably. Amla slaps the ball through cover for three and, worryingly for England, Broad seems to have hurt himself bowling that ball. Looked like he went over on his ankle in the delivery and he moves gingerly back to his mark. Prince clips the final ball of the over down to long-leg for a single. Broad seems okay after that scare earlier in the over.

Over 65 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 372-3 - We're still waiting for the first run of the session, and there's another close lbw shout against Prince. Still Harper is unmoved, and that one was probably just outside the line.

Over 64 Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 372-3 - Another maiden over from Broad. The new balls's available, but with both new-ball bowlers wearing their trainers I'd guess it won't be taken.

Over 63 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 372-3 - Another maiden over from Panesar as the final session gets off to a quiet start. The final hour of this match begins at five tonight, so if the captains have got together South Africa can declare at 1650 and we can all go home.

Over 62 Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 372-3 - Broad bowls the first over after the tea break, and if you need any clue about England's intentions in this final session then the fact that both Anderson and Sidebottom are fielding in trainers rather than bowling boots should provide it. Broad starts with a maiden.

TEA England finally enjoyed some success in that session - and picking up Kallis cheaply for a second time will have pleased Sidebottom - but the draw is still very much on the cards. Had Cook held that chance from Prince then maybe it might have got a bit nervy for the tourists. Not now. The only remaining interest in the game will be Amla's century, then it should be handshakes all round and off to Headingley.

Over 61 Panesar 0-0-0-0-1-0 372-3 - Amla moves within 12 runs of his century with a single from the penultimate ball of the session.

Over 60 Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 371-3 - Broad goes wide on the crease, and Amla uses the angle to whip the ball through square-midwicket for a single. Prince plays out the over defensively, not tempted into a repeat of his indiscretion in Broad's previous over.

Over 59 Panesar 1-0-0-2-0-0 370-3 - Amla takes a single down the ground from the first ball which, you rather suspect, was England's plan. Prince not looking too sure of himself against Panesar, but he gets through the over and even scores a couple of runs with a punch through the covers.

Over 58 Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 367-3 - Drop! England miss a fairly simple chance to put some jitters in the South Africa camp. Prince drives loosely at one from Broad that shapes away, and he gets a thick outside edge that Cook gets two hands to but can't hold. He had to move to his right, but it didn't come all that quickly. Should have been taken, and would have been a real boost on the stroke of tea.

Over 57 Panesar 0-0-0-1-1-1 367-3 - Prince continues to live dangerously by playing with pad not bat, but again Harper rules in his favour as Monty pleads once more for a leg-before verdict. That might have been the closest of the lot. Three singles from the last three balls of the over.

Over 56 Broad 0-0-0-2-0-0 364-3 - Broad has had the lightest workload of England's main bowlers, but he's back into the attack for a short burst before tea. Amla rocks back to force him through the covers for a couple of runs, Pietersen tidying up on the cover boundary. Apologies, by the way, for the scorecard woes at the moment. I can confirm that South Africa do not have three batsmen at the crease. The tech guys are chasing out the gremlins with a big stick even as we speak.

Over 55 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 362-3 - Prince playing a dangerous game here, padding up to the ball outside off stump. One spins past the front pad and hits the back leg sending Monty spinning round and roaring an appeal. The only thing for Daryl Harper to decide is whether it's spinning too much, and he decides it is. Hawk-eye agrees. Monty has two more close shouts in the over, and Prince might be better advised to get his bat involved. Harper won't keep shaking his head.

Over 54 Sidebottom 0-0-0-4-0-0 362-3 - Lovely shot from Amla, slapping a square-cut through point for four as Sidebottom pushes the ball across the right-hander. Bit short, bit wide, and Amla took full toll.

Over 53 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-1 358-3 - That wicket's just woken everyone up. Ambrose is Cor-ing and Gor-ing with renewed vigour behind the stumps as Panesar comes back into the attack. Even a rock-solid forward defensive from Amla has the England keeper bothering the stump mic. Amla gets a single from the final ball of the over with a drive to cover, taking over Kallis' role of strike farmer-in-chief.

Over 52 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-W-0 357-3 WICKET! Well, that came from nowhere. Sidebottom swings a perfect yorker under Kallis' defences and knocks back middle stump. Wasim Akram would have been happy with that delivery, and it's removed a high-class player as well. First-innings hero Ashwell Prince blocks the final ball of the over. South Africa effectively 11-3. I wonder...

Over 51 Collingwood 0-0-0-0-1-1 357-2 - Amla gets a single as Collingwood comes back into the attack, pulling the ball out to the legside sweeper, but that leaves Kallis one ball to farm the strike. And he manages it, the crafty devil, taking a single to cover.

Over 50 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 355-2 - Kallis plays out a maiden over, graciously allowing Amla to have another bat.

Over 49 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-1 355-2 - For the second over running, Kallis pinches the strike with a single from the final ball. Amla doesn't seem too fussed.

Over 48 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-1 354-2 - "People can bang on all they like about the supposed placid nature of this Lord's pitch - but how come eighteen wickets fell in the first three days, and England have now managed only two in well over a day and a half?" asks Martyn Hayes. "To me, this says more about England's bowlers lack of guile and variety than anything else." It's a fair point, but I disagree. There's plenty of evidence that Lord's gets flatter and flatter as the days pass, and I think any decent batting line-up would be fairly embarrassed to get bowled out twice here by any attack. The main reason 18 wickets fell in three days was because England bowled well and South Africa batted dreadfully on Saturday. Eight wickets on the first two days - when the batsmen were actually trying to play some shots - suggests the pitch has been pretty easy to bat on from the outset.

Over 47 Panesar 0-0-0-0-4b-0 353-2 - Panesar continuing to bowl over the wicket down the legside to no-one's surprise but Ambrose, who fails to gather one that goes past Amla's pads. Four byes, and it's fair to say Ambrose hasn't had the best of matches. Has yet another England wicketkeeper started brightly only to fade away to mediocrity?

Over 46 Sidebottom 0-3-0-0-0-0 349-2 - Sidebottom is back into the attack in place of Anderson. His first ball is clocked at a very gentle 74.2mph, and he's clearly not at full power. A flashy drive from Amla squirts behind point and the batsmen scurry three runs to finally, after over two-and-a-half days at the crease, put South Africa in credit. The players have a drink at the end of that over. Steve Marshall asks if there are still tickets available today. Well, it's far from a full house, Steve, so if you rock up later I'm sure they'll let you in.

Over 45 Panesar 0-1-0-1-0-1 346-2 - The scores are now level as a neat Panesar over alternates dot balls and singles clipped away on the legside.

Over 44 Anderson 0-0-1-0-0-0 343-2 - "What is the chance of SA stepping up the pace posting a lead of 150 declaring and making England sweat for a couple of hours tonight?" Less than zero, I'd say. Amla takes on a short ball from Anderson, pulling it all along the ground to the boundary sweeper for an easy single.

Over 43 Panesar 0-0-1-0-0-4 342-2 - Amla works to leg for a single that brings a wicketless gallon for Monty, who then drags one short to Kallis. No second invitation required, and Kallis launches the ball high over midwicket for four runs. The wicketkeeping debate moves on, with a couple of people complaining about Ambrose's habit of shouting something every ball. It's hard to render on the page, but has variously been transcribed as "Cor!", "Gor!" and "Dooooh!". It is infinitely frustrating, especially as it usually comes after a ball from Panesar pitches outside leg and is easily kicked away by the batsman rather than after a ball that spins sharply past the outside edge. At least Ambrose's standard position to the seamers - about three inches inside the boundary - puts him out of the stump mic's range.

Over 42 Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0 337-2 - There's just the merest hint of reverse-swing here for Anderson, but Kallis has little problem countering it. South Africa just nine runs from wiping out their huge first-innings deficit here.

Over 41 Panesar 0-0-0-1-0-1 337-2 - Panesar - not McKenzie - continues to try and find some assistance from this pitch. Little is forthcoming, and each batsman collects a single.

Over 40 Anderson 0-1-0-0-0-4 335-2 - Amla gets a single before a rusty-looking Kallis slashes an edge just wide of Cook in the gully and away for four. "Interesting that McKenzie not only faced the balls of the 37th over, but he was bowling it as well. This is truly an amazing feat of cricketing prowess!!" observes a sarcastic Hugh Stevens. Quiet, Hugh - no-one had noticed. I put my hands up; it's been a tiring couple of days.

Over 39 Panesar 0-0-1-0-0-0 330-2 - "Isn't the pitch supposed to break up now and become impossible to bat on round about now?" asks Phillip Heath. Yes, but this is Lord's. Panesar continues to wheel away on a conspicuously non-broken-up pitch and is pushed down the ground for a single by Amla. Panesar then gets one past Kallis' outside edge. A thin one on that, and England might have just thought they were in with a sniff.

Over 38 Anderson 0wd-0-0-0-1-W-0 329-2 WICKET! Finally a breakthrough. McKenzie's astonishing feat of concentration comes to an end after more than nine hours as he chases a wide one from Anderson and gets a thin edge through to Ambrose. Deserved reward for the persevering Anderson. Now England just have to get through Jacques Kallis and the middle order. Simple. That wicket came with perhaps the worst delivery Anderson has bowled in his 29 overs in the innings. "Thank you Dave for picking the one comment I sounded really birdy on!!!" complains Tiny Tim fan Fran Banham. Sorry.

Over 37 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 327-1 - Panesar clocks up another maiden over into the rough outside McKenzie's leg stump.

Over 36 Anderson 1-0-0-1-0-0 327-1 - Both batsmen collect singles to deep cover as Anderson continues to run in with purpose despite little prospect of reward for his efforts. McKenzie has called for a runner, and a delighted-looking Graeme Smith has to come out to run for his opening partner. Further excitement as Andrew Strauss sprints off the field after a chat with Billy Bowden. Could be the patter of tiny feet...

Over 35 Panesar 0-0-0-1-0-0 325-1 - Amla works the ball to leg for a single. "Love that shot, Monty," chirps Ambrose. "You cant axe Tiny Tim!!!! He is soooo cute!!" says Fran Banham.

Over 34 Anderson 1-0-0-0-1-0 324-1 - England, to their credit, have maintained pretty decent standards in the field. McKenzie pulls the ball hard through square-leg, and Broad makes good ground round the boundary before diving full-length to stop the ball and save three runs. Anderson offers some width to Amla, who helps the ball out to deep cover for an easy single. On the subject of keepers, James Foster certainly seems to have a lot of fans. I'd certainly love to see him get another chance, and if England are determined to have one keeper across all three formats of the game then he is definitely the choice. He's an inventive and dangerous batsman in one-day games and a fine gloveman. Craig Horne hits the nail on the head: we have no-one who's an excellent batsman and an excellent keeper. Few countries do. The choice is between an OK keeper who's a fine batsman (such as Prior) or an OK batsman who's an excellent keeper - like Foster. With Ambrose, I reckon you've got a player who's middling at both disciplines. Not ideal.

Over 33 Panesar 0-0-4-0-0-0 322-1 - At least with Panesar and Collingwood bowling we're getting through the overs at a reasonable lick. Amla gets four through the covers but almost gets in a tangle from the final ball, looking to play it through the legside and getting a leading edge into the offside. No harm done, though.

Over 32 Collingwood 0-1-1-4-0-0 318-1 - Collingwood continues after lunch - a clear indication that England have given up the ghost. After a couple of singles, McKenzie drives pleasantly down the ground for four. What an effort this has been - approaching nine hours of stoic resistance now. England complain about the ball again, but it passes Billy Bowden's handcuff test.

PLAYING FOR KEEPS It wouldn't be an England Test match without a debate about the wicketkeeper. Ambrose has had a poor game here, no question, but can England really go through the hassle of changing him again? My preference is - and has been for the last five years - Chris Read or James Foster. They're both far better keepers than Ambrose and probably at least his equal with the bat. Both men are still suffering the effects of being picked for England far too young, and I really don't know what they've done to put a string of England selectors off. Let us know your thoughts via the FEEDBACK icon or email me on Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com

LUNCH Another victory for the Lord's pitch and the bean-counters. In an age where less than one in four Test matches ends in stalemate, this will be number six in a row at HQ. Something needs to be done, but take nothing away from McKenzie and Amla. They've been impressively resolute and, while the run-rate won't set pulses racing, they are quietly and effectively completing the job in hand. With little action to report here, I'll mischievously throw in the news that Lancashire have beaten Hampshire by six wickets with one A Flintoff 39 not out off 23 balls.

Over 31 Panesar 0-0-0-4-0-0 312-1 - Lovely shot from Amla, punching Panesar through the covers off the back foot with a classically high front elbow. Beautiful shot to end a workaday session of cricket.

Over 30 Collingwood 0-0-0-0-0-0 308-1 - Collingwood completes a maiden over, and the one shining light from this session is the over-rate: England will get through more than 30 overs, so at least we don't face the prospect of a late finish. I'm not sure I could stand it.

Over 29 Panesar 1-1-0-0-0-0 308-1 - Panesar's still wheeling away and jumping around enthusiastically, but he's been thwarted quite easily by these two batsmen so far today.

Over 28 Collingwood 0-0-0-0-2-0 306-1 - Collingwood's into the attack. He posed McKenzie some problems yesterday, and runs one back down the hill into the pads. Huge appeal for lbw, and it must be very close. Bowden shakes his head, and Hawk-eye reckons it's shaving the very edge of leg stump. Can't give that out, however much England plead. McKenzie clips to leg for two.

Over 27 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-1 304-1 - McKenzie takes a single from the final ball of Panesar's over. It's been hard yakka for England's spinner since day three.

Over 26 Sidebottom 0-0-0-1-0-4 303-1 - Amla cuts a rubbish slower ball from Sidebottom to bring up South Africa's 300 and his half-century (116 balls, 9x4s). A brave innings, and one that might have convinced England to try and get him out by more conventional methods.

Over 25 Panesar 0-2lb-0-0-1-1 298-1 - Panesar slides one down the legside, and it flicks off Amla's pads for a couple of leg-byes. Each batsman collects a single before the over ends.

Over 24 Sidebottom 1-0-0-0-0-0 294-1 - Amla flicks to leg for a single from the first ball of the over and McKenzie continues to blunt England's attack. Ambrose is up to the stumps against Sidebottom, perhaps just to amuse himself. He's chuckling away at something anyway.

Over 23 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 293-1 - Another maiden for Panesar. There's some spin there, but it's depserately slow and McKenzie kicks most of the balls away. More on the potential England team for the second Test: Neil Birchall would not only bring in Flintoff for Collingwood, but also Simon Jones for Sidebottom, who is clearly not fully fit. "The two best exponents of reverse swing in the country. They also happen to be two of the most consistent and accurate bolwers England have available to them." Jones has certainly been hugely impressive for Worcestershire this year, and it'd be great to see him back. If his name isn't being seriously considered by the selectors, it should be.

Over 22 Sidebottom 1-0-0-0-0-0 293-1 - McKenzie defends to mid-on and belatedly decides there's a single on offer. He gets home safely. Amla is beaten outside off stump by Sidebottom - at least the third time he's looked uncertain around off stump since the seamers stopped bowling at his grille. Martin Avery agrees that Flintoff should come in for Collingwood, but suggests Strauss making way with Vaughan stepping up to open. Can't see it Martin. England missed Strauss in Sri Lanka, he's been in fine form recently, and South Africa's opening bowlers clearly don't enjoy having to start proceedings against a couple of southpaws.

Over 21 Panesar 0-0-0-0-1-0 292-1 - Just a single for McKenzie from that Panesar over. It's going to be a long, hard day for England here. Three days of solid bowling might lead to some sore bodies rocking up at Leeds later this week. Nigel Rudd suggests Bell, Cook and Strauss should be bowling. Don't rule it out sometime this afternoon. Pointless for England to knacker their main bowlers unnecessarily.

Over 20 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-1-4 291-1 - Sidebottom is back into the attack. Clearly, Vaughan is now starting to think in terms of conserving energy for the second Test by using his bowlers in short spells. Interesting that most of the people emailing in about Flintoff are keen for him to play, but want a bowler to make way. For me, if England are serious about trying to win this series then five bowlers is the way to go. Of course, Sidebottom's injury might just save the selectors a headache by allowing them to bring in Flintoff for the left-armer. While the other pitches in this series won't be as flat as this one, they won't be horrors either. Remember 2005: ask yourself if England would have won that series with four bowlers. For me, it's Collingwood who has to make way. McKenzie defends to point for a single, and Amla - enjoying himself now England have started bowling properly at him - gets four with a neat clip off his legs.

Over 19 Panesar 0-0-4-0-0-0 286-1 - Panesar spins the ball past Amla's edge and finds it two balls later. But the ball flashes wide of slip and down to the third-man boundary. South Africa trail by just 60 runs now.

Over 18 Broad 0-0-0-4-0-3 282-1 - Thankfully, England have stopped trying to knock Amla's head off and gone back to trying to get him out. Broad bowling full with slips and gullies and everything. And sure enough he gets the ball past the outside edge. Glory be. Amla gets four with a neat punch off the back foot through the covers. The slips are very, very close here: first slip is at least five yards ahead of Ambrose. I know England's keeper stands ludicrously deep, but there's no need to take the Mickey to that extent. Amla whips the last ball of the over through the legside for three runs, and that over at least gave the big crowd here something to applaud.

Over 17 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-0 275-1 - Where's the rain when you need it? Panesar bowls over the wicket into the rough outside McKenzie's leg stump, and the batsman is happy to kick it away. It's a maiden over, but not one Monty will have particularly enjoyed. Adrian Jackson asks if South Africa should try for some quick runs this afternoon and then have an hour of fast bowling for the final hour. I'd reckon that would be a waste of energy here. I suspect, with the second Test starting on Friday, that South Africa will be more than happy to keep the England bowlers toiling away out there.

Over 16 Broad 1-0-2-0-0-0 275-1 - Broad replaces Anderson and, after McKenzie pulls the ball out to deep square-leg for a single, Amla actually gets a couple of balls in his own half. He drives one of them away for a couple of runs, but the rest of the over is all short stuff again.

Over 15 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-1 272-1 - Denzil Bricknell asks if we think the game's boring because England aren't going to win. I'd say it's because neither side has any chance of winning, and the dead, slow pitch has now apparently made taking wickets and playing strokes equally difficult. There was an attritional excitement to South Africa's gritty rearguard yesterday. Now with the job basically done, there's little to keep the attention. Perhaps that explains England's leg-theory to Amla: something to relieve the ennui. McKenzie takes a single from the final ball of Panesar's over, and the players have a drink.

Over 14 Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0 271-1 - Phillip Croucamp asks if the umpires can step in should England continue with this short-pitched attack to Amla. There is a law about intimidation, which could theoretically be used. But that does mention the 'relative skill' of the batsman so Amla, at number three, is pretty much fair game. There is of course, the rule that permits only two genuine bouncers per over. Personally, I think this has all got a bit silly. England are sending a message: we don't think this man can play the short ball. But, as we saw in the first innings, it's nearly always the full ball that ends up getting the wicket against a batsman who struggles against the short ball. And Amla is playing the shotr balls better and better with all the practice England are giving him.

Over 13 Panesar 0-2-0-0-0-0 271-1 - Nice-looking drive from McKenzie gets two as Panesar comes back into the attack.

Over 12 Anderson 1-0-1-0-2-1lb 269-1 - McKenzie pulls the first ball of the over through the legside for a single meaning the field changes again. Amla gets inside the line of one short ball before helping another through the legside for a single. McKenzie gets something Amla never will - a drive ball - and gets it through the covers for a couple. The next ball is even fuller and comes off the right-hander's boot for a leg-bye.

Over 11 Broad 0-0-0-4-0-1lb 264-1 - Lovely shot from McKenzie, gliding the ball through the vacant gully area for four. An attempted clip into the legside comes off the pads for a leg-bye to allow McKenzie to keep the strike.

Over 10 Anderson 0wd-0-0-0-0-0-0 259-1 - Vaughan appears to be as bored as the rest of us. There are five men catching on the legside now as Anderson bowls short stuff from round the wicket. The first one is stupidly short and called wide. The next two are speared down the legside, and Amla defends the next one. Slip comes out to silly-point as England go all Bodyline on us. An over of short-pitched bowling ends with another ball down the legside that almost catches the glove on its way through. England, obsessed with the short ball, are perhaps forgetting the delivery that actually dismissed Amla in the first innings. Some interesting ideas coming in so far, including guess the average age of the fine gentlemen sat in front of the Pavilion. And, of course, that old staple: should Flintoff come back into the side at Leeds. Over to you...

Over 9 Broad 0-0-0-0-0-0 258-1 - Vaughan has already tried all of his four main bowlers inside the opening nine overs here. Stuart Broad starts his day's bowling efforts with a maiden over. There will be plenty of those today.

Over 8 Anderson 1-0-0-0-0-0 258-1 - McKenzie works to leg for a single, and Amla then tries to whip a ball from outside off through midwicket. Bit risky when there are three men in catching but he gets it down. Michael Vaughan brings a fourth man in, and the last ball flicks off Amla's body and down to the fine-leg boundary. Billy signals dead ball because there was no shot offered.

Over 7 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-1-0 257-1 - McKenzie helps himself to a single pushed through the gap at point. Ho-hum, another over ticks by. Anyone think there could still be a result here? Or, more importantly, if you think it's going to be a draw have you got any ideas how we can keep ourselves amused today? Hit the FEEDBACK icon or email me: Dave.Tickner@bskyb.com

Over 6 Anderson 0-0-0-4-0-0 256-1 - Big appeal for a catch down the legside as Amla fends at a short ball, but it's flicked the top of the thigh pad rather than the bat. Anderson bowling very straight here to Amla - short and full - and that allows the wristy right-hander to flick one through the legside for four. England won't mind - it was in the air and there are two men in fairly close on the legside looking for a catch.

Over 5 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-2-0 252-1 - Just a hint of uneven bounce as McKenzie attempts a pull but plays over the top of the ball. Ooh, look - a straw. I shall clutch at it grimly. McKenzie helps himself to two runs with a clip through midwicket as he continues to repel all England can throw at him. England have released the itinerary for their ludicrous tour of India this winter. The two Tests are squeezed in before Christmas after the important business of seven interminable but lucrative one-day internationals.

Over 4 Anderson 4-0-0-0-0-0 250-1 - A double landmark for South Africa: the score is 250 and the deficit is down to two figures as Amla flicks the ball wristily through square-leg for four. Amla wears another short ball, ducking into it and getting a crack on th shoulder, but appears unfazed.

Over 3 Sidebottom 0-0-0-0-0-0 246-1 - Panesar's one over was purely to allow Vaughan to switch Sidebottom to the Nursery End, which is his favoured one for some reason. Logic says he should be happier at the Pavilion End where the slope helps him bring the ball back at the right-handers. Anyway, he's at his favourite end and starts his day's work with a maiden over. McKenzie has already batted for 414 minutes in this innings. Could be another 300 to go.

Over 2 Anderson 0-0-0-0-0-0 246-1 - Amla survives an over of predictably short bowling from James Anderson.

Over 1 Panesar 0-0-0-0-0-4 246-1 - First runs of the morning for Neil McKenzie, drivin gMonty Panesar through the covers for four. But he came very close to offering a bat-pad chance, the ball just missing the inside edge and flicking off the pad to Alastair Cook at short-leg.

WELCOME to day five at Lord's. With the skies bright and the pitch as flat as ever, South Africa will have to have a quite astonishingly poor day to lose this one from here. Once again - for the sixth match in a row - the overwhelming desire to ensure five money-spinning days at HQ has come at the expense of a result, it seems. There is some good news for England: Ryan Sidebottom is fit to bowl despite his back problems. If England still harbour ambitions of victory, they probably need two wickets in the first hour.