Innings South Africa 151 (Rabada 36, Anderson 3-32, Broad 3-37) vs England
After profitable the toss and selecting to bat, South Africa struggled to 151 all out shortly after tea, with the one true resistance coming from Kagiso Rabada, who was final man out for 36 after he and Anrich Nortje had mixed in a harm-limiting ninth-wicket stand of 35 in 73 balls, the best of the innings. But, having reached 143 for 8 at tea, Nortje fell to the primary ball after the interval, and the top got here rapidly.
In a deviation from the ways that introduced South Africa success of their innings victory at Lord’s final week, Dean Elgar had chosen to bat first, regardless of each cloudy overhead situations and England’s said desire for chasing video games, as proven by their 4 wins in a row at first of the summer time.
Elgar’s logic was dictated to a big diploma by South Africa’s staff choice, with Simon Harmer restored to the XI as a second spin possibility alongside Keshav Maharaj, and given his prowess for Essex within the County Championship over the previous 5 years, he may but come into his personal later within the match, on a floor the place he has claimed 15 wickets at 17.60 in his three matches in opposition to Lancashire.
But in the intervening time, the absence of the lanky left-armer Marco Jansen appears to be like like a possible oversight on a pitch providing constant seam motion in addition to additional bounce for England’s quicks – not least the restored Ollie Robinson, who utilised his excessive launch level to problem each edges of the bat, and hinted at a renewed dedication to his health ranges within the quickest spell of his Test profession up to now.
Though he’s thus far wicketless in his first outing for the reason that Hobart Test in January, Robinson was a handful in every of his two six-over spells, not least for the opener, Sarel Erwee. Despite his key contributions to the Lord’s win, Erwee was by no means allowed to settle as Anderson and Robinson hounded him in a probing new-ball pairing, and after taking part in-and-lacking relentlessly in an unconvincing 12-ball keep, Anderson discovered his inside-edge to carve a gap within the fifth over of the day.
Elgar fared little higher, even after a reprieve at brief leg on 10 when Robinson was denied a catch at brief leg after overstepping. After taking 16 balls to get off the mark, Elgar had been restricted to a solitary punched boundary by lengthy-off when Broad – getting into the assault because the hour mark approached – hit a very good size outdoors off with a touch of away motion. Jonny Bairstow at third slip stooped low to assemble, and South Africa’s captain was gone for 12.
Keegan Petersen linked with a trio of off-aspect boundaries – two of them agency cuts and one fats edge previous the slips – in his innings of 21, however Broad’s hungry introduction reduce brief his progress. This was the primary time for the reason that Cape Town Test of 2009-10 that he and Anderson had not shared the brand new ball when taking part in collectively, and in his third over, extra steep bounce on a very good size kissed the sting of the bat as Petersen bought squared up with flat toes. Joe Root at first slip swallowed the sting to depart South Africa wobbing at 41 for 3.
Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen compiled the beginnings of a fourth-wicket stand to revive South Africa’s hopes of reaching lunch with out additional harm. But Stokes, in a sometimes golden-armed intervention, had different concepts.
Stokes’ first breakthrough was harking back to Ian Botham’s maiden Test wicket in 1977 – a rank lengthy-hop that deserved to get the therapy, however as a substitute induced the error from the batter. Markram swung lustily throughout the road, however managed solely a steepling high-edge to Foakes, operating again in direction of superb leg.
One over later, van der Dussen was gone as effectively, to an every-means wager of an lbw choice from umpire Chris Gaffaney. The ball thumped the entrance pad very near the within edge, and carried by to the keeper. Van der Dussen reviewed, however the choice stood, with DRS returning an umpire’s name verdict on each influence and the highest of the leg bail.
It did not take lengthy after lunch for the wickets to move once more – two in two for Anderson, as first Harmer and Maharaj have been nailed on the entrance pad for plumb lbws. Kyle Verreynne then grew to become Broad’s third, as he snicked one other off-stump lifter by to Foakes for 21, however England’s recurring struggles to see off the tail resurfaced earlier than tea as Rabada took to the lengthy deal with with Nortje for firm.
Straight after the break, nonetheless, Robinson earned his first wicket for the reason that Hobart Test in January as Nortje was pinned plumb lbw, earlier than Rabada – with solely Lungi Ngidi for firm – aimed a wild hack at Jack Leach to be caught at slip.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket
