Cricket: Magic Marcus

MARCUS Trescothick gatecrashed the farewell Oval party for Alec Stewart by hitting the first double century of his career to guide England into an unexpected first innings lead in the final npower Test.

A sell-out 18,000 crowd, including Stewart's family and Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson, who is a long-time friend of father Micky, had arrived to pay tribute to the long and distinguished service the wicketkeeper-batsman - in his final Test match - has given to both England and Surrey.

They were not to be disappointed with Stewart playing his part in a stirring England fightback which steered them into an 18-run lead on 502 for seven by the close of the third day, having been given a standing ovation as he walked out to the crease while the South African players formed a respectful guard of honour.

But it was Somerset left-hander Trescothick, nicknamed Banger, who received an equally enthusiastic response with a career-best display and emphatically end any suggestions that he should move down the order while he rediscovers his form.

Trescothick had entered this Test suffering the first crisis of confidence in his short but glittering international career having scored only one century in his previous 49 Test innings and only four half-centuries in his last 20.

He had virtually answered those doubts the previous evening with an unbeaten 64 as England finished 319 runs adrift on 165 for two, but today he demonstrated his unquestioned class with a virtuoso display to reach 219 and completed a good news day after Graham Thorpe marked his return to Test cricket by also claiming a comeback century.

Dismissive of any delivery which could be considered wayward on such a batting-friendly surface, Trescothick was almost Caribbean in the attacking manner of his strokeplay and enabled England to dominate the tourists' attack as they have never before in this series.

The ease in which the pair negotiated the first two hours of the day was impressive, particularly with little room for error as South Africa searched desperately for the breakthrough, and a pointer for things to come later in the day.

Surrey left-hander Thorpe followed him to three figures in the afternoon session, a significant achievement in his first Test innings for 14 months and his first Test century at his home county ground.

Ed Smith delayed the Stewart accolades for a further hour, scratching around for 16 before falling lbw to Andrew Hall, to allow the arrival of the guest of honour with England needing a further 105 runs for parity.

Stewart took his time to get off the mark, but did so in style by smashing his 17th ball from Hall through the covers for the first of six boundaries in trademark style to lift the crowd's hopes of a farewell century.

That was not to be and Stewart was fortunate to survive a loose drive off Jacques Rudolph which was dropped by Neil McKenzie at extra- cover when he had reached 33 and he added only five more runs before falling lbw to Pollock.

But by the time he departed he had certainly played his part, helping Trescothick add 101 off only 126 balls and taking England to within five runs of a first-innings lead, as the crowd rose to applaud him while he acknowledge every part of the ground just in case he did not get another opportunity to bat during the remainder of the Test.

Trescothick followed him three overs later.

Copyright 2003 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.