By Andy Wilson
Mark Wood starred in an encouraging collective display by the England Lions pace attack on the second day of their South African tour.
The 24-year-old ripped out the last three Gauteng wickets in the space of nine balls to complete figures of 4-29 as the Lions claimed a first-innings lead of 264.
Two of the Gauteng tail were bowled and a third lobbed a return catch to Wood trying to evade his slippery bouncer, after he had earlier had the former Glastonbury and Rochdale batsman Wesley Densdale caught at deep square leg.
The Yorkshire pair of Liam Plunkett and Jack Brooks shared the new ball and each took an early wicket then returned to claim a second later on, and Warwickshire's Boyd Rankin also chipped in as he generated the usual pace and bounce.
Adil Rashid provided variety and gave the pacemen a break on a roasting Soweto afternoon, and although he was hit for three sixes he gained revenge when Brian Barnard, who hit two of them, was bowled off the bottom edge.
Rankin's wicket came courtesy of a sharp low catch at short leg by Sam Robson, the first of three victims in the field for the Middlesex opener. The others were Densdale at deep square leg, and the Gauteng captain Sizure Masondo in the gully off Plunkett.
Robson, who had retired after scoring a century in the first innings, fell cheaply when the Lions batted again late in the day - gaining further time in the middle for the batsmen was a higher priority than enforcing the follow-on.
Jonathan Trott was promoted above Alex Lees to his familiar position at number three, and reached an unbeaten 10 despite Adam Lyth and James Vince also falling cheaply at the other end as England closed with a lead of 307.
The Lions had earlier added another 82 to their overnight total of 361 and lost another five wickets, in addition to Jonny Bairstow who made 62 before becoming the third batsman in the innings to retire.
Lees was unable to become the third centurion of the innings, thick-edging a drive to gully after adding only three to his overnight 82, while his county colleagues Rashid and Plunkett also fell after making starts.
Brooks and Rankin were the final two wickets to fall as the tourists finished their first innings on 443, with Wood unbeaten on 13.
The Durham paceman took pride in his own performance, but admitted it was a collective effort.
He told ecb.co.uk: “It couldn’t really have gone better, getting four wickets to start with. When I started out it was all about rhythm and getting a good feel coming into bowl in a game, but to pick up the wickets is a bonus and I’m delighted.”
He went on: “I think we did well as a unit today on a slow pitch. It was tough at times but we didn’t let them get away from us.”
Make that four for 29 for @MAWood33 and last 3 Gauteng wits polished off in nine balls.
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 6, 2015