South Africa defiant after Stokes show

CAPE TOWN: Ben Stokes launched an astonishing assault which enabled England to give themselves plenty of time to push for victory, but the tourists had to work hard to take two South African wickets before the close on the fourth day of the second Test at Newlands on Monday.

Set to make a world record 438 to win, South Africa were 126 for two at the close. They used up 56 overs on Monday but will need to bat out another 90 on Tuesday to prevent England from levelling the four-match series.

Opening batsman Pieter Malan, making his Test debut, scored 63 not out and shared half-century partnerships with Dean Elgar (34) and Zubayr Hamza, who was caught behind off James Anderson in the penultimate over of the day for 18.

Stokes slammed 72 off 47 balls to overshadow a maiden Test century by Dominic Sibley, who continued his sedate progress as he took his overnight score of 85 to 133 not out. He reached his hundred off 269 balls and faced 311 deliveries in his innings.

England’s batting on Monday was in dramatic contrast to their effort on Sunday when they ground their way to 218 for four off 79 overs. Sparked by Stokes they added another 157 runs off only 32 overs before declaring five overs after lunch on 391 for eight.

Stokes was caught at long-on off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj after an innings which included three sixes and seven fours.

Ollie Pope fell quickly but Jos Buttler continued the attack, hitting 23 off 18 balls as the lead went beyond 400.

Malan, out for five in the first innings, survived a review for leg before wicket against Stuart Broad when he was on four but then batted with patience to notch a patient maiden Test fifty off 144 balls which included only two fours.

England’s first success was a first Test wicket for Joe Denly, who troubled the left-handed Elgar with his leg-spinners into the rough outside the left-hander’s off stump, eventually having him caught behind off an edge so faint that Elgar unsuccessfully sought a review. —AFP

England won toss

England 1st Innings 269 all out (O Pope 61*; Rabada 3-68, Pretorius 2-26)

South Africa 1st Innings 223 all out (D Elgar 88, H van der Dussen 68; Anderson 5-40)

England 2nd Innings (overnight 218-4)

Z Crawley c De Kock b Rabada 25

D Sibley not out 133

J Denly c Pretorius b Nortje 31

*J Root c Du Plessis b Pretorius 61

D Bess c De Kock b Nortje 0

*B Stokes c Van der Dussen b Maharaj 72

O Pope b Rabada 3

†J Buttler c De Kock b Nortje 23

S Curran c Hamza b Maharaj 13

S Broad not out 8

Extras (b 18, lb 3, w 1) 22

Total (8 wickets dec; 111 overs) 391

Fall: 1-28, 2-101, 3-217, 4-218, 5-310, 6-315, 7-356, 8-375

Bowling: Rabada 20-3-69-2; Philander 14-7-24-0; Nortje 18-2-61-3 (1 w); Pretorius 16-4-56-1; Maharaj 43-9-160-2

South Africa 2nd Innings

P Malan not out 63

D Elgar c Buttler b Denly 34

Z Hamza c Buttler b Anderson 18

K Maharaj not out 2

Extras (b 4, lb 1, nb 3, w 1) 9

Total (2 wickets; 56 overs) 126

Yet to bat: *F du Plessis, HE van der Dussen, †Q de Kock, D Pretorius, V D Philander, K Rabada, A Nortje

Fall: 1-71, 2-123

Bowling: Anderson 9-4-18-1; Broad 9-2-20-0; Bess 12-3-29-0; Curran 8-2-13-0 (1 nb, 1 w); Denly 8-0-26-1; Root 3-0-7-0; Stokes 7-3-8-0 (2 nb)

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and Paul Reiffel (Australia). TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand). Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)