South Africa escape with a draw

South Africa dug deep to force a draw in the first test match at Lord's. Neil McKenzie top scored with 138.

Three at the crease: South Africa captain Graeme Smith, left, talks to Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla, right, while acting as McKenzie's runner during the first Test match at Lord's.

Myles Hodgson

LORD'S // Neil McKenzie's tour de force hundred and a second three-figure exercise in determination from Hashim Amla completed South Africa's escapology act in the first Test at Lord's. McKenzie (138) shut out England for nine-and-a-quarter hours, and his second-wicket partner Amla (104no) outlasted him for a five-and-a-half-hour hundred of his own as South Africa secured a draw by closing out the match on 393-3.

South Africa's safety was a far cry from the peril of following on with 346 runs behind and on the verge of going 1-0 down in this four-match series. But McKenzie and his captain Graeme Smith responded with an opening stand of 204, and the former was then joined by Amla to add 125 more. * PA Sport

Updated: July 14, 2008, 12:00 AM