Strauss praises repeat display from Onions

It was Onions who kept out the last over at Centurion as England began their four-Test series against South Africa with a nerve-jangling draw and he was at it again at Newlands yesterday in the third Test.

Morne Morkel made things even tougher for the Durham tailender than Makhaya Ntini had last time.

But he came through just as impressively for a precious nought not out which kept England 1-0 up with one match to play, and in an unbeatable position in the series.

England's players took to the field to shake the hands of their rivals but Strauss revealed a lingering resentment about what he described as South Africa's "malicious" behaviour over the ball-tampering row which erupted on day three.

Strauss remains unhappy with the hosts' decision to go public with their concerns over Stuart Broad and James Anderson's management of the ball.

They chose not to make an official complaint the next morning, and the International Cricket Council subsequently declared the matter closed.

But Strauss said: "I do think to a certain extent that the South Africans announcing it to the media – without being totally clear in their minds what they were going to do, whether they were going to put in a formal complaint – is a little bit malicious.

"Ball-tampering is a very sensitive subject and if you're going to make allegations, you've got to be very clear or confident that is exactly what the other team were doing."

Strauss conceded England must be very careful from now on – after Broad stopped a straight drive with the sole of his studded boot, and Anderson was pictured running his fingers over the ball – but insisted his team have done nothing wrong.

In a tense final day, Ian Bell (78) and Paul Collingwood shut out South Africa for 57 overs in a 112-run stand after England began on 132-3. But England's captain was left to fear the worst when Onions and Graeme Swann had to keep South Africa at bay for the last 17 balls.

"I was thinking, 'We're in this situation again, and it's not often the end of the story is the same'," Strauss reasoned. "I was pretty comfortable until Graham went in there – but he did a great job."

Strauss's hopes had risen gradually through the day until Collingwood went, and was soon followed by three more batsmen.

"I always feel that as batsmen we should apologise to him (Onions) for having put him in that situation – although I thought it was an unbelievable partnership between Collingwood and Bell," Strauss said.

"At the start of the day, we were very much second-favourites.

"Three wickets down, fifth-day wicket, you assume that more times than not the fielding team is going to wrap it up.

"But even the way Jimmy (Anderson) batted (yesterday morning), you could tell it wasn't a wicket where you were just going to fire people out."

As for Onions, he too thought England's sixth-wicket pair were saving him the trouble this time.

"Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood got us into a fantastic position and with 10 overs to go, I was thinking, 'I'm quite happy with my trainers on and nothing to worry about'," Onions said.

"All of a sudden a few wickets fell, and I was next into bat. It was a lot worse waiting to go into bat than actually being out there."

Morkel tested him to the limit, though. "I felt in control of the situation, but it was definitely harder than the one in the first Test," Onions said. "I'm a massive admirer of Dale Steyn and hats off to both him and Morkel. He's a great bowler, and I'm just thankful I managed to block it out again."

South Africa captain Graeme Smith remarked, with a wry smile: "They probably need to promote Graham Onions."

He added: "Obviously there is massive disappointment in that dressing room at not being able to take that last wicket.

"It's hugely frustrating not being able to land the knockout blow.

"We came into this Test with a lot of players under pressure and questions being asked. We were put in on a wicket that went around a lot, and the guys showed a lot of character. We set up a Test win; we played positive cricket.

"But I don't want to take anything away from England. They've showed a lot of strength of character."

Smith said of Morkel: "He's probably carrying the whole world on his shoulders in that dressing room at the moment, but he gave it 100 per cent.

"It's obviously disappointing he couldn't see the stumps rattle or get a caught behind. But I think he bowled a good over."

Key moments on the final day

62nd over of innings: Nightwatchman Anderson edges a sweep onto his boot and into hands of Prince at leg slip. 153-4

63.1 overs: Collingwood given out first ball, caught in slips. Batsman calls for reviews and is given not out.

70.3: Steyn's delivery uproots Trott's off stump. 160-5

127.3: Duminy breaks epic Collingwood-Bell stand, Kallis taking fine slip catch. 272-6

130: Prior goes after just nine-ball stay, Duminy tempting him into fending a catch to De Villiers. 278-7

137.4: Broad departs for a duck, but had lasted 22 balls. Broad uses – and loses – an umpire review. 286-8

138: Bell snicks a ball from Morkel to slip. 290-9

138.3: Big lbw appeal against Onions rejected.

138.4: Onions plays a short ball aerially into the offside but it lands in space.

140.5: Onions plays inside line of short ball on its way to Boucher. Umpire is unmoved and hopeful review is swiftly turned down.

141: Morkel fails to draw Onions into a stroke from the final ball, and England seal the draw. 296-9