Stokes shines as England level series

By AFP

January 08, 2020

CAPE TOWN: Three late wickets from all-rounder Ben Stokes helped England overcome a heroic South Africa fightback to draw level at 1-1 in their four-Test series at Newlands here on Tuesday.

South Africa began the fourth innings on day five needing to bat through the three sessions to maintain their series lead, and dragged the game deep into the final session before England finally broke down their resistance.

Nightwatchman Keshav Maharaj was the first to fall, pinned LBW early in the day, but wickets weren’t nearly as easy to come by as the day went on. Skipper Faf du Plessis faced 57 balls for 19 before hitting Dominic Bess to square leg.

Pieter Malan, whose 288-ball vigil was the second-longest fourth-innings effort on Test debut, was finally winkled out by Sam Curran, who angled one across to take the edge on its way to Stokes at second slip. He scored 84, hitting just three fours.

With the catch, Stokes equalled the English record for catches by a non-wicketkeeper in a single Test match. It was his sixth catch in the match.

Wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock grafted 107 balls for his half-century, but also had himself to blame for his dismissal, hitting Joe Denly to short midwicket. He struck seven boundaries in his 50 runs.

Rassie van der Dussen, having kept out 140 deliveries, was victim of an unusual field placing, James Anderson moved to leg gully one ball before Stuart Broad enticed van der Dussen to tickle it straight to his old mate. The right-handed batsman scored 17 runs, at a strike rate of 12.14.

Then it was Stokes’ turn to show his magic. Dwaine Pretorius (0) was caught in the cordon having been worked over. Anrich Nortje (0) lasted one ball, also nicking off with Zak Crawley holding on after a juggle.

Kagiso Rabada entered, and with time running out helped South Africa believe again, especially with Vernon Philander looking steady at the other end.

But Philander, having held out for 51 balls, could finally hold on no longer, fencing to Ollie Pope at gully to spark wild celebrations from the tourists. The all-rounder’s eight runs through two fours.

Stokes, who had shined with the bat, too, scoring 47 and 72, was declared the player of the match. The third Test will be played at Port Elizabeth from January 16.

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 391-8 dec (D Sibley 133*)

South Africa 2nd Innings (overnight 126-2)

P Malan c Stokes b Curran 84

D Elgar c Buttler b Denly 34

Z Hamza c Buttler b Anderson 18

K Maharaj lbw b Anderson 2

*F du Plessis c Denly b Bess 19

H van der Dussen c Anderson b Broad 17

†Q de Kock c Crawley b Denly 50