17 Dec 2015 | Cricket
Storms denied England a tour-opening victory over a South African Invitational XI on the last day in Potchefstroom.
Rain plus loud thunder and lightning put paid to England's hopes of bowling out the hosts, set a notional 473 for victory, in the final two sessions.
The Invitational XI had reached five without loss in the two overs available in their second innings before a draw was called.
The weather therefore left England's bowlers with only 59.1 competitive overs under their belts, having dismissed their their opponents for 188 in the first innings, although they get another chance to stake a claim for a place in the XI for the first Test on Boxing Day in another three-day clash, against South Africa A in Pietermaritzburg, from Sunday.
The batsmen will also be looking to impress again after a collapse of seven wickets for 55 runs saw them dismissed for 190, albeit after securing a lead of 282 at the halfway stage.
Quick runs were the order of the day for England when play resumed as they attempted a victory push.
However, their progress was hindered by some good bowling from right-arm seamer Junior Dala, who claimed 5-34, and fast bowler Andile Phehlukwayo, who returned 3-36.
Resuming on 99 for three, England lost wickets at regular intervals throughout the morning.
Gary Ballance was first to go having made 25, and Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root were caught behind down the leg-side within the space of four balls for nought and 39 respectively.
Root's knock proved to be the highest of the England innings, with Chris Woakes pulling Dala to midwicket and Stuart Broad providing wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen with a fourth catch of the innings off the same bowler.
Moeen Ali was ninth to go, caught behind for a creditable 20, with first-innings centurions Ben Stokes and James Taylor forming an unlikely last-wicket pair.
Having added 195 together in the first innings, the pair managed just eight the second time around before Stokes holed out off Phehlukwayo for 27.
Mark Footitt and James Anderson delivered an over each at the start of the afternoon session before the bad weather took the players off the field.