By Andy Wilson
Jonathan Trott was the rock on which England Lions constructed a huge total in reply to South Africa A on the third day of four in Paarl.
After resuming on 57, the Lions captain batted for the whole day in the fiercest heat of the match so far to reach an unbeaten 176 off 350 balls in a total of nine hours and 13 minutes.
Trott played the anchor role in three consecutive century partnerships with James Vince, Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid, who each stroked a half-century as the Lions piled up 507 for six in reply to the home team’s 504 for eight declared – taking the lead when Trott somehow found the energy for an all-run four in the last over the day.
Good luck to @Trotty and @vincey14 as they resume #englions innings on 169-3. Still a lot of work to do pic.twitter.com/ton13tpzlQ
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 13, 2015
A tired, happy and modest Trott praised his partners for allowing him to play a supporting role.
“The guys that came in and batted with me took the pressure off quite a bit,” he said.
“The way that Vince, Bairstow and Rashid played just allowed me to hold up the other end. I realised that pretty early and I just watched from the other end – it was pretty good actually. I don’t think there was any need for me to go and force anything.”
Vince, who resumed on 43, reached his fifty in the second over of the morning when he stroked two boundaries off the experienced international Ryan McLaren, and went on to 78 from 171 balls before he edged Rory Kleinveldt to first slip.
The scoreboard says it all. @Trotty reaches a hard-earned century for #EngLions against South Africa A pic.twitter.com/n6hE6kxnZI
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 13, 2015
That ended a partnership of 165 with Trott after they had come together yesterday evening with the Lions under pressure at 67 for three.
Bairstow took 14 balls to get off the mark but lofted his 20th off the recent Test debutant Dane Piedt for six over midwicket to move to double figures, and continued to play positively as he scored 63 from 95 balls in adding 103 for the fifth wicket with Trott, crunching nine fours.
Bairstow was bowled by Kleinveldt, a fourth wicket for the persevering home skipper, but there was more punishment in the heat for the A-team as Rashid joined Trott to put on another 111.
The thoughts of @vincey14 after his 78 helped #EngLions move within touching distance of South Africa A http://t.co/NvedzfYOdm
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 13, 2015
The Yorkshire leg-spinner played some of the day’s most pleasing shots in making 78 from 105 balls with 12 fours before he was bowled by McLaren. Liam Plunkettthen joined Trott to add a further 61 before the close.
This is Trott’s highest first-class score since 2012, his first century on international duty since the first game of last winter’s Ashes tour against a Western Australian Chairman’s XI in Perth, and came on the ground where he made his first-class debut, as a 19-year-old for Boland against Free State in October 2000. Now Boland Park will hold another special memory for Trott.
#englions take the lead in last over of the day as @Trotty sweeps an all-run four! He ends unbeaten on 176, @Liam628 has 31, total 507-6
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) January 13, 2015
"It feels great," added Trott.
"I said I wanted to play for England again, and I have to earn my place back - so that's what I'm doing here on the Lions tour, working hard with everyone else.
"We're all putting in lots of effort. Playing for England again is something I'd definitely like to do."