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* South Africa lead by 139 in final test
* England claim three late wickets
* Bairstow misses out on maiden ton
LONDON, Aug 18 - Jonny Bairstow fell five runs short of a
maiden test century on Saturday before South Africa took their
lead in the match to 139 at the end of day three of the third
and final test against England at Lord's.
South Africa closed on 145 for three after England claimed
the wickets of Proteas captain Graeme Smith (23) and fellow
opener Alviro Petersen (24) after tea, and the key scalp of
Jacques Kallis (31) late on.
"It was fantastic (to get Kallis at the end)," Bairstow told
reporters. "We were toiling hard all afternoon so to come away
with that important wicket was fantastic.
"It's pretty level now. There's two days to go and a lot of
cricket left. If we can get a few early wickets we will be
looking to chase down whatever they set us."
Kallis showed dissent at his reviewed dismissal for the
second time in the match. Hashim Amla was 57 not out and
night-watchman Dale Steyn had yet to score.
Amla was dropped on two when he gloved Stuart Broad down the
leg side, but although wicketkeeper Matt Prior managed to get a
full glove on the ball, he couldn't hold on. The wicket of
Kallis, though, would have buoyed England late on.
"If someone said at the start of the series that we would be
1-0 up and 150 ahead with two days left, we would have taken
that," South Africa's assistant coach Russell Domingo said.
"We think we are in a good position tonight. If we can score
another 80 or 90 runs in the morning, that will put England
under some pressure."
England, who must win the match to square the series and
prevent South Africa leapfrogging them at the top of the world
rankings, were dismissed for 315 shortly after lunch.
CAUTIOUS START
Bairstow made a fighting 95 and Graeme Swann added a vital
37 not out at the end to give England a modest first innings
lead of six runs.
South Africa started their second innings cautiously,
reaching 33 without loss at tea off 15 overs. But Swann struck
not long after, when Smith attempted to sweep the off-spinner
and was adjudged leg before after failing to make contact.
That was 46 for one, and it was soon to be 50 for two.
Petersen fell two balls after Amla was dropped, when Broad
trapped him lbw. Like Smith, he chose not to review the
dismissal and replays showed it to be the right decision, as the
ball would have struck leg stump.
Kallis and Amla put on 81 and were solid for the most part,
ominously so for England, who would have well remembered their
third-wicket partnership of 377 at The Oval in the first test,
when South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs.
But the duo was separated when Kallis was lbw to Steven
Finn. Kallis instantly called for a review, giving the
impression he had hit it, but hotspot and regular replays did
not show evidence to support the batsman's protest. He walked
off visibly annoyed and shaking his head.
Bairstow, in the England side for the omitted Kevin
Pietersen, was bowled by Morne Morkel trying to drive through
mid-on. It was a courageous effort by the 22-year-old after
coming to the crease at 54 for four, and he received a warm
standing ovation by the capacity crowd.
Bairstow's innings of just over five hours came to an end
after mounting pressure took its toll. He failed to score from
15 balls off Morkel before he perished. His stand of 124 with
Ian Bell the day before, though, kept England in the match.
"I was pleased with the way I played but pretty disappointed
not to get there," Bairstow said. "It was quite a tense period
of play when I went in so it was pleasing to ride that out with
Ian Bell."
Fast bowlers Morkel (four for 80) and Dale Steyn (four for
94) did most of the damage for the tourists.
(Editing by Stephen Wood)