• England v SA, 3rd Test, Lord's, 4th day

Finn confident England can win Lord's Test

ESPN staff
August 19, 2012
Steven Finn had figures of 4 for 74 in South Africa's second innings © PA Photos
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Steven Finn is hoping he will not be summoned to action on the final day of the third Test as England face a battle to salvage the series against South Africa.

With England needing a win to level the series and retain their No. 1 Test status, the hosts saw their hopes of victory fade when openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook fell cheaply on Sunday after being set a target of 346 for victory.

Finn, who gave England hope with figures of 4 for 74 to help bowl the tourists out for 351, is confident his side can defy the odds and beat South Africa, although he hopes not to play any further part in such a success.

"The No. 1 status means a lot to us," Finn said. "But it's not what we're playing for tomorrow - we're playing to level the series. "We want to win tomorrow, and believe we can win tomorrow.

"I hope I don't need to bat tomorrow, being at No. 11. But whatever's on the board when I get out there, I hope I can pull my finger out and get some runs."

With the third wicket partnership of Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell likely to be key to England's chances on Monday, Finn insists there is no shortage of belief in the dressing room and is confident Trott and Bell can help salvage the situation.

"It's going to be important we try to build partnerships, get our foot in the door and then later on in the day maybe we can smash through it and win the game," he said. "The two guys that are in have performed fantastically well for England for a long time ... we hope they can build a big, long partnership.

"As a team collectively over the last number of years, we've enjoyed breaking records and defying people's beliefs against us. So tomorrow, when we get here, we've got a 15-over-old ball to bat against - which isn't going to do as much as an new ball obviously.

"We've got a great opportunity to assert ourselves on the South Africans early - and we really do believe in the dressing room that we can win this game tomorrow."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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